Dallas Police Department Gets $1 Million for Protective Gear
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has informed the Dallas Police Department that the Homeland Security Grants Division (HSGD) within the Office of the Governor has awarded the City of Dallas more than $1 million in grant funds to be used to buy protective gear for the officers.
Abbott cited the deadly ambush on Dallas police officers on July 7, 2016 as the reason for the grant money. That night, 5 officers protecting a peaceful protest were shot and killed by a gunman hiding in a building above the street.
"What the attack in Dallas last year showed us is that more needs to be done to protect the brave men and women who run into danger and not away from it,” Abbott said in a statement. “I hope that these grants will help address some of the needs of our men and women in blue, and look forward to doing even more this legislative session that shows Texas has their back."
The money will be used to outfit officers with new ballistic helmets and bullet proof vests.
In total, the governor’s office has awarded more than $1.6 million to the City of Dallas with new equipment to respond to large-scale emergencies since November. An additional $900,000 was also awarded to help pay for overtime costs associated with the ambush.