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Board approves fire department request to buy replacement body armor and helmets
Summary
The fire chief explained vests exceed their intended service life and requested up to $10,600 to buy universal-fit ballistic vests and helmets; the board approved the purchase request by motion.
The Shrewsbury board approved a fire-department capital purchase request to replace body armor and to acquire ballistic helmets, with a budget cap of $10,600.
The chief explained that warranty and service-life expectations for body armor (commonly five years for police use) differ for fire personnel who do not wear vests daily; the chief said the department assigns a 7–10 year service life for its equipment but that current vests are over 10 years old and some were inherited from another department. He said the department solicited four bids and that "firearm or ballistic systems" was the lowest at $860 per vest. "So the purchase would be not to exceed $10,600 and we will get as many helmets as we can, to get in under that price," the chief said.
Council members asked about quantities; the chief estimated seven vests and eight to 12 helmets. The chief described the situations that prompt personnel to wear armor, including active-shooter responses and certain domestic-violence calls. A motion to approve the purchase request was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.
The chief also provided related department updates later in the meeting, noting increased call volume, apparatus servicing and long lead times for ordered ambulances and fire apparatus (36+ months for ambulances, 48 months for some apparatus), and mentioned a recent class action lawsuit filed against apparatus manufacturers that has affected pricing and lead times.
