The Perry Police Department will be receiving some new gear with a special presentation tomorrow.

Shield616 will be honoring the brave men and women of the Perry Police Department tomorrow by giving away armor to the organization. Recently, Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn participated in Tour de Shield616 Minnesota, which is approximately a 500-mile bike ride across the northern state to benefit law enforcement. 

Vaughn tells Raccoon Valley Radio that the department issues ballistic vests to officers to help protect against handgun penetration. He describes the advantages of the new armor-plated vests they’ll receive.

“They’re everyday wear, soft armor, and then there’s removable rifle plates that you can take in and out of them, and they’re really light weight.”

Shield616 is a nonprofit organization that provides rifle protection to first responders. The Perry Police Department is having the presentation at Hotel Pattee, 1112 Willis Avenue, in Perry tomorrow at 6pm. The meeting is open to the public and will be a good opportunity to meet the officers in the community.