Body Armor Campaign Tops Its Goal

TYLER – The “We Back Our Law Enforcement” Campaign has gone over the top. Senator Kevin Eltife and Mayor Martin Heines announced Thursday the campaign has exceeded the goal of raising $104,000 from the public. The funds will go toward the purchase of body armor vests for the Tyler Police Department and Smith County Sheriff’s Department and constables. The total cost for the vests is $204,000. Around $100,000 will be provided by the City of Tyler and Smith County. The drive has now raised $150,000 and money is still coming in. Eltife and Heines will work with the City and County to order the vests as soon as possible and to determine priorities for the Police and Sheriff’s departments in order to use the additional funds for other equipment the departments might need.