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If Itasca police are called upon to carry out their rapid response plan, they will be equipped from head to toe.
Village Administrator David Williams said the village intends to outfit all 28 of its officers with ballistic helmets and reinforced steel shields to protect them in dangerous situations, such as entering a building under hostile fire.
“Throughout the country, the first responders aren’t going to be the military–it’s always going to be the local police and fire,” Williams said.
Police Chief Scott Heher said the new equipment was part of a rapid response program police took part in last year. The $6,500 equipment will be bought with police budget funds, police officials said, not from state or federal grants.
