CPD to ask City Council to Fund Bullet Proof Plates

n wake of recent attacks on police officers across the country the Chattanooga Police Department is taking steps to make sure their officers are safe…and secure.

City Councilman Larry Grohn tells News 12 keeping officers safe is not only a top priority, it’s also personal.

“This was initially brought forth a week or so ago. And of course everyone’s going, hey I have 3 personal friends on the police department. It becomes personal for several of us.”

Councilman Grohn said the these bullet proof plates can protect against high powered weapons.
“It will pretty much stop anything except a very high powered projectile.”

“If these plates happen to be hit dead on by a bullet it changes the molecular structure. ”

After that happens they must be thrown away.

“There is a critical need for this type of protection. Our goal of course has been to get up to 500 officers on the street.”

Right now they have almost 450 officers out on the streets.

It will cost a little over 100 thousand dollars to purchase 500 plates.

CPD is also asking for 50 thousand dollars to go towards upgrades to the gate at the Police Service Center.