Suffolk News-Herald

U.S. Senator George Allen (R-VA) announced Friday that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded grants to 10 jurisdictions in the Hampton Roads area for the purchase of bullet-resistant vests.

Suffolk law enforcement will receive one of the four largest amounts awarded in the state; $5,932.50.

Altogether, 94 jurisdictions in Virginia received funding from the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program.

&uot;Keeping our law enforcement officers safe is key to keeping our families and communities safe,&uot; said Sen. Allen. &uot;One of my top priorities in the Senate is the continued protection and security of our homeland here in Virginia. It is reassuring to know that all across our great Commonwealth, law enforcement officers will have this new equipment, making Virginia a safer place to live, learn, work and raise a family.&uot;

Other Hampton Roads localities and the amounts they received are as follows:

Chesapeake City: $3,764.52

Hampton City: $2,037.84

Newport News City: $9,485.66

Norfolk City: $3,900.18

Portsmouth City: $2,708.16

Virginia Beach City: $19,893.88

Warsaw Town: $349.99

Williamsburg City: $1,830

York County: $5,718.88

The purpose of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program is to help localities equip their law enforcement officers with bullet-resistant and stab-resistant vests, thus protecting the men and women who serve to protect their communities. Jurisdictions with a population under 100,000 received priority funding, thus ensuring that even small communities are adequately equipped.