Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Michael Robinson, a local citizen and business owner of Robinson Gunworks, recently contacted Jefferson County Sheriff McNeill to see if his agency would be interested in a donation of armor plates.
These plates are inserted into a tactical vest and make the vest safer for the law enforcement officers who are wearing them.
The plates also cost about $130 each, and two plates are required per vest, so naturally Sheriff McNeill accepted the offer of a donation.
Robinson said that he had recently purchased a grouped lot of tactical and gunsmith items from a business acquaintance in Auburn, Ga., and that the armor plates were included in the set.
“I have no need for them,” Robinson explains. “So I thought, why not donate them?”
Robinson had a total of 14 boxes of plates, with two plates per box, and each box being enough plating for one officer.
In order to function with complete safety, a soft tactical vest should have a plate at the front and back.
According to Robinson, the soft vests that law enforcement typically wear will protect an officer against handgun ammunition, should a suspect fire a weapon at the deputy or police officer.
The vests don't, however, protect against heavier ammunition, such as those used in rifles; that is where the armor plates come into service, as they will stop a heavier bullet from harming an officer.
“In the event that someone comes out with a AR or AK, they have protection,” says Robinson.
There were a total of 14 boxes – enough for 14 officers – and Sheriff McNeill as well as Monticello Chief of Police Fred Mosley met with Robinson at the gunsmith's shop to accept the donation.
The chief and sheriff had agreed to split the armor, so that officers and deputies within the two agencies were equally protected.
Chief Mosley took five boxes – enough for five vests. Had the Monticello Police Department purchased the five sets of armor plating, it would have cost the agency $1,300.
Sheriff McNeill took nine boxes, which was enough for nine vests. Had the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office purchased the nine sets of armor plating, it would have cost the agency $2,340.
“Chief Mosley and myself would like to express out gratitude to Mike Robinson for his generous donation to help enhance the safety of our law enforcement personnel who serve our community every day,” wrote Sheriff McNeill.
Robinson Gunworks, a repair, refinishing and custom manufacturing gunsmithing shop, is located at 705 S. Water St., just past the library.
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