The Rice County Sheriff’s Office announced they are joining with the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association and sheriff’s offices all over the state in donating bulletproof vests and helmets to help and support the people of Ukraine.
Statewide, more than 900 bulletproof vests, 75 helmets and four shields have been collected from Minnesota law enforcement agencies in just a few days.
The donated items have specific care instructions and expiration dates outlined and recommended by the manufacturer. Although these items are past their expiration dates for use with the sheriff’s department, they are still capable of providing protection and will help the people of Ukraine, who are currently fighting an invasion by Russia.
Rice County Sheriff Jesse Thomas said, normally, an expired vest is sent to the county landfill for proper disposal. He sees this as an opportunity to offer support to people who need help.
“If we have items that can protect war victims in Ukraine then we should do what we can to help out. When our ballistic body armor expires, we usually take it to the landfill and witness it get buried in the pile of garbage. The donation of our items didn’t cost us anything and it kept them out of the landfill.”
The Sheriff’s Department donated four standard ballistic vests and one tactical ballistic vest.
The Minnesota Sheriff’s Association has developed a personal contact connected to Ukraine that will ensure the donated items go immediately to those in need.
