Two-minute impact
The Sheriff’s Office will apply to the fiscal year 2025-26 Rifle-Resistant Body Armor Grant Program and the General Victim Assistance Grant Program. If approved, both projects will begin Oct. 1 and run through Sept. 30, 2026, according to county documents.
According to county records, the General Victim Assistance program was approved for FY 2024-25 and would continue:
- Providing registration and travel costs for the Victim Services Unit to attend conferences and training
- Directing financial crisis resources to victims, including emergency food, housing, transportation and clothing
The discussion
County Judge Bill Gravell said the county’s fleet committee is considering armor for deputies, and officials will likely begin testing on vehicles this fall.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Terry Cook called the body armor “substantial,” emphasizing that officers wear the armored plates on the front and back.
“This court has been incredibly helpful in providing the tools necessary to protect our men and women,” Gravell said. “There's only one thing I care about each night—that every one of our men and women go home alive, period.”
By the numbers
The county is requesting about $250,000 through the Rifle-Resistant Body Armor program. The General Victim Assistance program totals to $33,362, with $26,689 being requested from the Office of the Governor and a 20% match of $6,673 required from the county.
According to county documents, the match will be met through the existing Victim Assistance Coordinator salary.
