31-Mar-19 – A bulletproof vest does not stay bulletproof forever. Each vest must be replaced every five years – if a bullet doesn’t make it unusable sooner. Chicago police officers are responsible for replacing their own vests – and at $500 per vest, along with other equipment and uniform expenses, the costs can add up.

At its February 27 meeting, River North Residents Association’s Public Safety Committee presented a gift of $1,000 to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation in honor of 18th District Police Commander Paul Bauer, who died on February 13, 2018, after being shot six times during an altercation outside James R. Thompson Center.

(Above) Members of River North Residents Association’s Public Safety Committee present a ceremonial check for $1,000 to members of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, seen here with Chicago police officers and others attending the committee’s February 27 meeting.

The gift will help the foundation’s Get Behind the Vest program that assists police officers with this expense.

“We are privileged to work closely with the officers of the 18th District CPD and are grateful for their ongoing support and protection,” said Karl Costello, Chair of the RNRA Public Safety Committee. “These men and women put their life on the line every day for us and we felt this program was a meaningful way to show our support.”