Report from staff
At the Northern Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial in Covington, law enforcement officials, legislators, and prosecutors convened on Wednesday to commemorate a significant milestone in the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office’s endeavor to provide life-saving body armor to all of the state’s law enforcement personnel.
Through the program, around 2,000 Kentucky cops, deputies, and troopers have received body armor. One in five Kentucky police officers wore an out-of-date vest or had none at all until recently.
The General Assembly established the Body Armor Grant Program in 2024 by allocating $15 million to the attorney general’s office. Launched on July 15, 2024, the program intends to soon extend to shields, helmets, and other protective gear.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman stated, “We are eager to collaborate with additional law enforcement agencies in Kentucky to safeguard the men and women who defend our families.” This initiative, which was developed by powerful General Assembly officials, offers more than just equipment. For these officers, their departments, and the families that wait up for their loved ones to return home at the conclusion of each shift, this body armor is a symbol of peace of mind.
As the Senate appropriations chair and a representative of Kenton County since 2013, Senator Chris McDaniel (R-Ryland Heights) is instrumental in obtaining the funding necessary to equip Kentucky’s law enforcement community’s men and women.
“The Kentucky General Assembly’s strong, continuous support for law enforcement is reflected in the General Assembly’s $15 million investment in the Body Armor Grant Program, which includes $5 million in the first year and $10 million in the second,” McDaniel said. As our police officers face criminal threats and strive to maintain the safety of our communities, these targeted, budget-conscious monies will help provide them with the tools and training they need. Delivering these tools to Attorney General Coleman at a time when law enforcement is dealing with increasing risks and expectations is an honor.
The names of 39 dead heroes, including the brother of Campbell County Sheriff Mike Jansen, who was slain in the line of duty in 1984, are inscribed on the Northern Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial in Covington.
Sheriff Jansen, whose department was one of almost two dozen in Northern Kentucky authorized for soft body armor, said, “I am proud to see the Commonwealth of Kentucky, under Attorney General Russell Coleman’s leadership, taking decisive action to secure funding for the safety of our dedicated officers.” With the knowledge that they can safely return home to their loved ones at the end of each shift, they deserve to serve.
According to Florence Police Chief Jeff Mallery, whose department also benefited, initiatives like this one from the attorney general’s office not only improve officer safety throughout the Commonwealth but also allow agencies like ours to grow additional outreach and community services initiatives.