Bulletproof vests budget approved by Geneseo Village Police

Geneseo Village Police Departments’ annual budget for bulletproof vests is set for the 2022 year with each vest totaling about $800-900 each. Geneseo Police Chief Eric Osganian spoke on the topic and explained how the funding worked for the Village Police.

“Police contract states that the village has to provide a bulletproof vest for each sworn officer. We try to get in a rotation cycle so we're not buying all the vests the same year and split them up, because they are rather expensive. Our federal grant does take 50 percent off that which is great, but the other burden is on the village budget, so it does add up if [the vests] are replaced,” Osganian said.

Osganian explained that K-9 units would additionally be covered under the grant for vests if there was a unit in the village. In order to assess the burden of pay, the budget must be planned for months in advance. This does not always account for a potential new hire, who would need another vest.

“This year we’re replacing two, next year we’re slated to replace one. Right now, we don’t have anybody up for a vest in 2023, but in 2024 there are seven people up for a vest,” he said. 

  Osganian described the costs associated as “an average of $877.71 per vest.”

“50 percent of that we’re getting back, but costs are going up in the grant program. Previously the state would pick up 50 percent and the federal government would pick up the other 50 percent on any new hires. After that five-year period, the state would opt-out and you just use the federal grant,” he said.

Osganian continued, “However, now it looks like just it's just the federal government, I don’t think the state is reimbursing us anymore. That’s still better than nothing. I mean, all the other equipment, whether we buy uniforms... everything else we pay 100 percent of those. So the 50 percent is better than nothing, it could be worse. You never know right? It could get worse than half off [in the future].”

It is all about planning as he pointed out, and it takes some practice to be able to prepare for all the possibilities.

In an email interview, Osganian explained, “So far we have received a total of $15,607.75 in funding to help pay for new bulletproof vests for the officers.”

He referenced a document titled Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership which explained the mandatory wear policy for the vests.

The document states, “Due to the increase in the number of law enforcement officer deaths, coupled with our renewed efforts to improve officer safety, beginning with FY 2011, in order to receive BVP funds, jurisdictions must certify, during the application process, that all law enforcement agencies benefitting from the BVP Program have a written ‘mandatory wear’ policy in effect.”

Even with the Village of Geneseo having to take 50 percent of the budget, Osganian clarified, “[The vests] are a safety tool, no different than us wearing a seatbelt. So, we're happy that we have them. We're happy that they’re available, and that the government wants to help us out.”