Palm Beach Police get donation of ultralight tactical gear
Seventy-one sets of ultra-lightweight tactical gear are on their way to the Town of Palm Beach Police Department.
Warren Kanders, chairman and CEO of Jacksonville-based safety product provider Cadre Holdings, and his wife, Allison, donated the equipment through the Palm Beach Police & Fire Foundation. Worth nearly $400,000, the gear is an upgrade to what the town's police department currently uses, department spokesman Capt. William Rothrock said.
Related:Palm Beach Police 'in a comfortable place' with active shooter training methods
Cadre has been manufacturing safety and survivability products for first responders for more than 55 years, the company said, and it produced the body armor included in the donation. All officers with the department have been measured for the new gear, and delivery is expected within 90 days, the foundation said.
“The new equipment is state-of-the-art and much lighter than what we currently have," Rothrock said. "Our officers will have better protection, be more comfortable, and look better and more uniform at the same time."
The Kanders also donated 10 sets of upgraded tactical body armor for the department's Tactical Response Team, as well as rifle-rated armor capability for each officer. The department does not have that capability, Rothrock said.
"This is a windfall for our department with rifle threats becoming more prevalent in active shooter incidents,” he said.
The Kanders, who are building a house in Palm Beach's North End, were introduced to the Palm Beach Police & Fire Foundation by board member Jeffrey Marcus and they became Council of 100 members, which includes the foundation’s most generous supporters, a release from the organization said.
After finding out what the Town of Palm Beach Police department needed, they donated the ultra-lightweight tactical gear that includes bulletproof vests worth about $377,000. Cadre Holdings, which does business mainly as The Safariland Group, was founded in 1964 and is a global provider of safety and survivability products designed for first responders, federal agencies, outdoor recreation and personal protection markets, according to its website.
Warren Kanders, who also is president of the principal investment firm Kanders & Company, has been involved in the protective gear industry for over 25 years, and said he made the donation to Palm Beach Police to support the local community and the men and women who protect it.
“My wife and I are thrilled to make this donation of lifesaving equipment to the Palm Beach Police & Fire Foundation," Kanders said. "This gear is cutting-edge, and will substantially increase officers’ comfort while providing them with maximum protection. The Town of Palm Beach thrives because of the service these men and women provide, allowing us all to enjoy this beautiful community safely and securely, and I look forward to continuing to support them further in the future.”
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach Police welcome donation of tactical gear, upgraded body armor
