Church raises $2,300 for bullet-resistant vests for financially struggling sheriff's department

Pulaski County Daily News ^ | 11/7/2009 | Darrell Todd Maurina

[darrellmaurina]

BUCKHORN, Mo. (Nov. 7, 2009) — A Halloween alternative party at Grace Covenant Church of Buckhorn, near Fort Leonard Wood, has raised $2,300 for bullet-resistant vests and other equipment in the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff J.B. King, who is a Southern Baptist, said he and his deputies greatly appreciate the help from the independent charismatic church. “It’s been a godsend,” King said. “During the past four years, this has amounted to a very healthy amount of money. We placed this donation into our equipment fund and it has helped us buy all kinds of equipment for our vehicles; for the officers, we have bought bullet-resistant vests.” Two of his deputies have been shot in the last five years, and while both suffered injuries, their vests likely saved their lives. Those deputies were wearing vests obtained through other donation programs, but many other deputies are wearing vests purchased through the church’s contributions. “I am not looking forward to the day that one of those officers takes a round, but they have the protection courtesy of this church and that is a very big deal,” King said.