DPD Officers Could Be Required To Wear Bulletproof Vests

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The Dallas Police Department is considering making bulletproof vests mandatory attire for all of it's officers.  That's because the U.S. Department of Justice is threatening to hold back funding for the vests if they are not a required for law enforcement officers.

Some cities like Garland already require on-duty officers wear bulletproof vests.

Dallas officials say the department received about $100,000 last year in a grant from DOJ for the vests.

"Right now the department doesn't have a policy making it mandatory" says Dallas Police Spokesman Senior Corporal Kevin Janse.  "But if there is a financial angle to this and the government withdraws funding, then it's something we're definitely going to have to look at" Janse says.

Sgt. Michael Flusche patrols Northeast Dallas and says he always encourages other officers to wear their vests.  Flusche was shot twice in each arm by a gunman who was barricaded in an Oak Cliff apartment with hostages in November of 2003.  Two other officers were also shot when they tried to enter the room where several children and their mother were being held against their will.  None of the officers had life-threatening injuries, but Flusche says his bulletproof vest is just as important as his gun.

"I believe officers should wear the set.  I believe it's one of our toolkit" says Flusche.