CHARLESTON —
When a criminal squeezes the trigger, the gun aimed at a law enforcement officer doesn’t have a mind of its own, and the jurisdiction he serves makes no difference once the bullet is in flight.
Mindful of that, Sen. Bill Laird, D-Fayette, is moving to make sure that all law enforcement officers across West Virginia have access to bulletproof vests.
One bill, advanced with the support of the West Virginia Sheriffs Association, would compel counties to furnish their deputies with the body armor.
A second proposal, likewise authored by Laird, would extend the same protection to others in the law enforcement profession — state and municipal.
A close brush with disaster for two police officers in Oak Hill inspired Laird to broaden the scope of his proposal so that municipalities are included.
“Whether your uniform is green, gray or blue, bullets do not discriminate,” Laird said Monday.
“Those vests are essential equipment for people in the field.”
Laird served four terms as sheriff in Fayette County and is closer to the issue than the majority of his legislative colleagues.
Through a system of grants, Laird said all his onetime deputies were equipped with the protective equipment.
“I think we have seen several instances here recently where the importance of body armor and bulletproof vests for our police officers was demonstrated,” the senator said.
“More specifically, in Oak Hill. Two officers were shot at and if it were not for their bulletproof vests, they could have been seriously injured or killed.”
Laird acknowledged that some smaller municipalities and less prosperous counties might struggle to meet the costs.
“But I feel it’s something that is essential, given the increased dangers associated with the law enforcement profession,” he said.
Laird couldn’t say what it would cost to outfit every law enforcement officer in the state, but said funds are available on a cost-sharing basis.
When it comes to human lives, he emphasized, “You can’t put a price tag on that.”
“In Oak Hill, we had two near misses, and those officers are here today because they had body armor,” he said.
Rudi Anne Kidder, executive director of the West Virginia Sheriffs Association, said her group has a fund that could be used to help counties defray the costs.
“After the tragedy last year in Clay County, we at the Sheriffs Association realized it’s vital to make sure our men and women on duty have ballistic armor,” she said.
“Right now, it’s nowhere in the code that the counties buy body armor for their deputies.”
West Virginia
Laird: Bulletproof vests ‘essential’ for officers
State senator proposes bill that gives all law enforcement officers access to protective gear
- West Virginia
-
-
W.Va. House elects Miley as new speaker
West Virginia’s House of Delegates elected Tim Miley as its new speaker Tuesday — though only after one of his fellow Democrats crossed party lines to vote for the GOP nominee.
-
Morrisey to assess abortion regulations
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey asked the state’s two legal abortion clinics on Monday to answer a series of questions about their practices and their policies for ensuring patient safety as he investigates whether any regulatory changes are needed.
-
Education standards facing backlash
West Virginia is sticking with new standards for math, reading and writing in public schools, but faces opposition fueled by the tea party movement, which believes the benchmarks are part of an attempted federal takeover of local education authority.
-
W.Va. set to celebrate 150th birthday
When Chelsea Ruby became executive director of the West Virginia Sesquicentennial Commission a few years ago, her hope was to set up some type of ceremony in Charleston to mark the state’s 150th birthday.
-
Numerous events to mark state’s 150th birthday
A look at some free events surrounding West Virginia’s 150th birthday celebration in the coming week. For a complete list, visit www.wv150.com :
Sunday: -
Regional bank aims to grow Appalachian economy
Mike Hurley had a great opportunity: He could multiply sales and staff by converting his metal-stamping business from one that made brackets for the automotive industry into a top-tier supplier of satellite dishes to DirecTV.
-
Senators ask network to ban kids’ junk food ads
Four U.S. senators are calling on children’s cable network Nickelodeon to ban ads targeted at children that promote and sell junk food and sugar.
-
NRA going after Manchin for gun stance
After years of showering U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin with stellar ratings and campaign endorsements, the National Rifle Association targeted the West Virginia Democrat with a TV ad launched Wednesday over his continuing push for broader gun buyer background checks.
-
Active-shooter drills advised for state schools
Every West Virginia school should practice responding to a gunman’s attack at least annually, as part of a plan to guard against violence, the top prosecutor for the state’s southern federal court district said Tuesday.
-
Woman sues W.Va. clinic over abortion procedure
A West Virginia woman is suing a doctor who she claims performed an abortion procedure on her, even though she asked him to stop because she was having severe pain.
- More West Virginia Headlines
-
W.Va. House elects Miley as new speaker
