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Chicago Police Receive $1 Million for Replacement Bulletproof Vests

By Mina Bloom | October 21, 2014 6:58pm
 Chicago police officer Del Pearson said a bulletproof vest saved his life when he was shot in the line of duty in 2012. On Tuesday, the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation donated $1 million to help buy replacement vests for officers.
Chicago police officer Del Pearson said a bulletproof vest saved his life when he was shot in the line of duty in 2012. On Tuesday, the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation donated $1 million to help buy replacement vests for officers.
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DNAinfo/Mina Bloom

BRONZEVILLE — One minute Chicago Police Officer Del Pearson was engaged in a gun battle on the Far South Side, and the next he was waking up in the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

"The doctors explained to me that if I didn't have a [bulletproof] vest on, that second shot would've caused way more damage than they would've been able to overcome to save my life," said Pearson, who was shot multiple times while working for the 4th Police District in March of 2012. 

Pearson, who has been on the force for 11 years and lives in Mount Greenwood, is one of 40 Chicago Police officers who were shot in the line of duty, but saved by a bulletproof vest, police officials said Tuesday in announcing a $1 million donation from the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation to fund new vests.

The donation will go to help pay for 2,500 replacement vests. The goal is to eventually replace 8,000 outdated vests, a news release said.

Bulletproof vests have saved the lives of "many, many more" officers, Pearson said at a media conference at police headquarters in Bronzeville.

Former Chicago Police officer Jim Mullen donated $5,000 to the cause Tuesday. In 1996, Mullen was shot in the line of duty, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. 

"I'm so happy to be here today," Mullen said.

With Mullen's contribution, the foundation has raised a total of $1.08 million, according to the release.

Once an officer graduates from the police academy, the department gives him or her a vest. But officers are expected to buy replacement vests themselves, at a cost starting at $500.

Vests should be replaced every five years, according to the release.

When asked if this procedure should change, Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said: "It would be nice, but it's part of a collective bargaining agreement."

He added: "This is negotiated with the city by the unions. This is not something that I have sway over. Every year, officers get a uniform allowance for exactly this reason, and to ensure that their uniforms look as sharp as Officer Pearson's."

The foundation plans to put $400 toward each vest, leaving the officer to devote $100 from their uniform allowance.

Bulletproof vests can deteriorate over time due to heat, moisture, daily use and storage, according to the release.

"The dangers that [police officers] face on a daily basis is overwhelming," McCarthy said. "Sometimes you don't even realize that [the vests] are expired. That creates dangers. Some of it is on us because we have to pay better attention to it, but if the public wants to help us ... obviously this is an incredibly worthy donation."

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