* Press release…
The Illinois State Police (ISP) is donating more than 3,000 pieces of protective equipment, including body armor, ballistic face shields, and ballistic helmets to help the Ukrainian citizens enduring the Russian invasion. By U.S. standards, this equipment can no longer be used by ISP or any other law enforcement agency within Illinois. Most body armor in the U.S. has a standard five-year life span. However, it will still offer some protection to civilians, humanitarian aid workers, and others in the Ukraine. This surplus equipment must be disposed of if it is not donated to the Ukraine.
ISP coordinated the donation with the Illinois National Guard, the United States Department of Homeland Security, the United States Department of Commerce, and the United States Department of State to transport the equipment as well as ensure compliance with all Federal and State laws and regulations.
I’ve asked which entity is receiving the equipment.
* WICS…
The police department at the University of Illinois Springfield is donating surplus body armor to Ukrainian citizens.
They boxed up 8 ballistic vests today and they are now headed on the journey overseas.
The vests will go to the US/Ukrainian resistance foundation which will be given to the ministry of defense of Ukraine.
Thoughts?
…Adding… From ISP…
Hey Rich,
ISP donated to the same non-profit working directly with humanitarian groups in Ukraine as UIS.
- Norseman - Tuesday, May 10, 22 @ 2:56 pm:
I support this initiative.
- Baloneymous - Tuesday, May 10, 22 @ 3:10 pm:
This is wonderful news. Ukraine is going to need everything they can get if what they are saying about Putin and the long haul is accurate.
- cover - Tuesday, May 10, 22 @ 3:18 pm:
Good news, although my primary thought is that whoever wrote the press release needs to get in the habit of referring to the country as “Ukraine” rather than “the Ukraine”.
- Big Lou - Tuesday, May 10, 22 @ 3:21 pm:
If only we could get the guns off the streets and send them over, think how much more firepower they’d have.
- JoanP - Tuesday, May 10, 22 @ 3:31 pm:
Good. “Expired” doesn’t mean it’s not useless.
- JoanP - Tuesday, May 10, 22 @ 3:32 pm:
I meant, “expired” doesn’t mean it’s useless.
Sheesh. Woman, proofread before you post.
- Southern Guy - Tuesday, May 10, 22 @ 3:49 pm:
== if only get the guns off the streets and send them over ==
I’m sure your local police department is accepting applications.
- Homebody - Tuesday, May 10, 22 @ 4:01 pm:
@JoanP: reminds me of expired food being thrown out, or expired meds being thrown out, when there are people who absolutely could benefit from it.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 10, 22 @ 4:02 pm:
Wholly supported this.
Not much more to add, or need to add.
- Kippax Blue - Tuesday, May 10, 22 @ 4:05 pm:
Something easy to support- very good to me
- SAP - Tuesday, May 10, 22 @ 4:39 pm:
Looks like a win-win to me.
- FormerParatrooper - Tuesday, May 10, 22 @ 4:41 pm:
As a Cold War soldier and remembering how we prepared for nuclear war with the Soviets, send Ukraine all we can. Water, food, weapons, maintenance equipment and material, medical equipment and everything else they could need. Putin is a relic and brought this on his Country
Ми – Україна. We are Ukraine
- Ares - Tuesday, May 10, 22 @ 6:27 pm:
There are churches in the southwest Chicago suburbs doing similar initiatives with medical supplies and equipment, shipping to Newark (NJ) by the truckload for airlift to Poland and Ukraine.