Bamberg County Sheriff's Department receives $10,000 grant for new body armor

BAMBERG, SC. (WJBF)- New improvements will soon be coming to the Bamberg County Sheriff's Office.

The county received a $10,000 grant from the South Carolina General Assembly and the S.C. Department of Public Safety for new body armor.

“The body armor, I think it's necessary because you know all across the United States you hear about police deaths every day,” said Bamberg County Council Chairman Evert Comer Jr. .

According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety's Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs (OHSJP), “the South Carolina General Assembly has designated one-time state funds for the purpose of providing assistance financial support to local government units for the purchase of bodywork. armor for its law enforcement officers.

Sheriff Kenneth Bamberg says the new vests will be issued to 5 new officers in the department, as several deputies received vests 3 years ago and are still in good condition.

“In 2021, when I took office, the MPs who worked with us all received brand new vests, which were manufactured in 2021 and have a lifespan of 5 years. We won’t need to replace them until 2025 or 2026,” Bamberg said.

County Administrator Joey Preston says it's another step forward for the Sheriff's Department.

“Just a few years ago, before Sheriff Bamberg was elected, a lot of our equipment at the sheriff's office was old, out of date. By applying for these types of grants, working with my staff members, we were able to find and locate these sources and retool virtually his entire department,” Preston said.

“We need to maintain the supply like I said, strengthen the choir and make the sheriff's department all it can be for Bamberg County,” Comer Jr. said.

Officials say the next step in the process is for Public Safety to release the funds.

Once this is done, the sheriff's department will order the body armor.

They hope to provide the new body armor to officers within the next 3 months.