BEXAR COUNTY, Texas — Law enforcement in areas surrounding San Antonio don't have bulletproof glass on their vehicles but that technology could be the difference between life and death.
On Wednesday over 20 agencies from the Bexar County Sheriff's Office to the Live Oak Police Dept. gathered to watch a live demonstration of the latest technology in the world of bulletproof glass.
President and CEO of the nonprofit "Operation Safe Shield" Clifford Dorn wants to help these agencies with purchasing the equipment. Bulletproof glass for windshields and back windows cost $9,000 for each car.
Dorn said he wants to raise $850-thousand for law enforcement in the Bexar county region to afford this technology.
The glass is 3A rated which means bullets from all handguns up to a 44 will not make it through. Authorities will be protected from anyone shooting from outside in but also have the ability to shoot through the side windows from the inside out.
Money has already been raised for agencies in Brazos County including Bryan Police, College Station Police, Texas A&M University Police, Blinn College Police (Bryan), Brazos County Sheriff’s Office and all Brazos County Constables.
There are plans to expand their reach to all seven counties in the Brazos Valley including Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson and Washington Counties.
“It’s worth it’s wait in gold…it gives the officer that split second to get out of the vehicle," Patrol Sergeant for China Grove Police Dept. Daniel Vickers said.
Vickers added that China Grove officers have been running into situations where people are armed and more aggressive more often. He believes the people committing crimes drive through smaller areas like China Grove to avoid locations with a higher concentration of law enforcement.
"We’re coming in contact with a lot more people who have a lot more to lose.”
Even Like Oak chief of police Gary Hopper said they've seen more people with guns lately.
Both Hopper and Vickers said their cities are going to think about implementing this technology in their patrol units but at the end of the day it comes down to funding.
Dorn expects to hold a community fundraiser in October that will help raise money for the cause.
“Our long term goal is to get the state to pick up the finding for this…the state would have to pay to get the glass installed like DPS is getting," Dorn said.
About Operation Safe Shield
The Texas legislature recently passed SB2222 to provide bullet resistant windows for all of the Texas Department of Public Safety patrol vehicles in response to two separate incidences of officers being shot through the windows of their patrol cars. TDPS Trooper Chad Walker was shot on March 26, 2021 near Mexia, Texas and died from his injuries. He was merely stopping to assist a disabled vehicle when he was ambushed. TDPS Trooper Juan Tovar was shot through his side window on April 8, 2021 while trying to apprehend a mass shooter fleeing from Bryan, Texas. After the second shooting in the Brazos Valley in Central Texas, concerned citizens in Bryan/College Station decided to start an initiative to provide lifesaving bullet resistant windows for all of the patrol vehicles in the Brazos Valley, starting with Brazos County. Dr. Clifford Dorn, the founder of Backing the Badge BCS along with Kristi Schiller of K9s4Cops decided to form Operation Safe Shield as a non-profit to generate funds to further this initiative.
The initial scope of operation will be to equip all law enforcement departments in Brazos County including Bryan Police, College Station Police, Texas A&M University Police, Blinn College Police (Bryan), Brazos County Sheriff’s Office and all Brazos County Constables.
We also plan expand our reach to all seven counties in the Brazos Valley including Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson and Washington Counties. Money donated for a specific county will be earmarked for that county. When we need emergency assistant from a violent encounter, it is nice to know that someone will come to our rescue. Giving rescuers an added layer of protection just seems logical.
Your contribution can help make this initiative possible. How much are you willing to spend to protect the life of someone coming to protect you?
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