The Board of Selectmen during its most recent meeting approved a $10,000 purchase from a Fort Collins, Col.-based company for new ballistic vests for New Canaan Police officers.
The protective vests are replaced every five years, according to Capt. Joe Farenga.
Referring to the vendor, Angel Armor, Farenga told the selectmen that five years is “the longest they’re willing to put their name on something being effective.”
“Over the years, we definitely at the range with our Special Response Team, have taken really old vests, and tried them and they still offer ballistic protection on a tree,” Farenga said at the March 4 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “But because they say that, they will absolutely step back if there’s a problem and it’s past that five years and an officer’s injured because they’re still wearing a vest beyond the recommended time. So we just replace them every five years per their recommendation.”
First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the purchase.
Farenga said the department has funds between two accounts to cover the cost.
He added that there’s a federal grant covering 50% of the cost of such vests and that NCPD expects to be able to apply those funds retroactively to the purchase.
The selectmen asked whether the vests cost about $1,500 apiece (yes), whether the grant in question is federal (yes the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest grant) and whether the five-year lifecycle of a vest has to do with materials (not always).
In an apparent reference to the federal government, Carlson asked whether the department had heard anything “about potentially not getting a federal grant, given where stuff stands.”
Farenga said no.
“I think as long as we apply it’s pretty much guaranteed,” he said.
During the same meeting, the selectmen voted 3-0 in favor of an approximately $7,000 for accessories such as lights and decals for a new Animal Control vehicle (the department replaced its 2012 Dodge Caravan with a 2021 Chevy Equinox).