Vest gift protects those who protect

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3479 Auxiliary donated money on Monday to purchase two bullet proof vests for the Eldorado Police Department.

The department buys new vests every five years since the warranty isn't good after that time.

"They (VFW Auxiliary) do good for the whole community all year long," said police Chief Shannon Deuel. "I can't express what that means to us."

The auxiliary chose to donate a combined total of $1,740 to police. The department bought seven vests; the money donated was enough to pay for two of them. The vests cost $870 a piece.

"We do outer vests (vests worn above the uniform) which have added to consecutive use by our officers," Deuel said. "The goal is to get each officer to wear their vest at all times."

The vests purchased are the newest model, they are more light weight and provide better protection, Deuel says. The vests also have several pockets and places to hold the tools used while on duty.

The auxiliary raised the money through different raffles and charity events, including their big golf scramble they hosted back in August.

"We try to help the post and the community," said Kenny Fals, auxiliary men's president. "We raise money to help the kids around the holidays and our police department is very valuable to us."

A few years ago the auxiliary donated money to help the Eldorado police department purchase "stop strips."

"They are always good to us when they have events," Deuel said. "We appreciate them thinking of us all year long."