On July 1, 2008, the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security assumed the program formerly known as the Body Armor Program. This new program, now referred to as the Law Enforcement Protection Program, enables our office to provide funds for equipment to law-enforcement agencies across the state.
LEPP provides funds for body armor, fire arms, ammunition, electronic- control devices, electronic-control weapons or electron-muscular disruption technology to sworn peace officers and service animals. These funds are available for cities, counties, charter counties, unified counties, urban-counties, and consolidated local government police departments, public university safety and security departments, and sheriff's departments.
In awarding these grants, KOHS gives first priority to providing and replacing body armor and second priority to providing firearms and ammunition, with residual funds available for the purchase of electronic-control weapons or electron-muscular disruption technology. Body armor purchased using LEPP funds shall meet or exceed the standards issued by the National Institute of Justice for body armor.
Applications are accepted during the entire year. Applications are reviewed quarterly by KOHS staff, and with approval of the governor, are awarded based on available funding.
Funding:
Body Armor: This program provides $504 for each considered unit of body armor requested and/or awarded. The unit price is determined by the current State Price Contract, which is updated each July 1.
Firearms and Ammunition: This program considers funding for duty, backup weapons, shotguns, and patrol rifles only. The program will also allow for the purchase of 500 rounds of ammunition for each duty, backup, and patrol rifle weapon awarded (100 shells-duty and 400 shells-practice). Only semi-automatic “patrol rifles” will be authorized – no specialty weapons such as full auto rifles or submachine guns will be considered for funding. The applicant must provide a copy of bids for the weapons and ammunition to determine award amount.
Electronic Control Weapons: This program considers funding for the purchase of electronic-control weapons. The applicant must provide a copy of bids for the devices to determine the award amount using the State Price Contract, if applicable.
Upon approval, award recipients will receive notice of the amount of funds approved and a Memorandum of Agreement. Once all executed documents are returned, approved by the Finance Cabinet and the Legislature's Contract Review Subcommittee recipients can begin expending their awarded funds. Awarded recipients will be reimbursed after funds are expended and proper documentation is provided to the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security. Upon completion of the grant project, a final site visit may be conducted to verify compliance with the KOHS agreement.
Please click on the link below to acquire an application for the program:
Law Enforcement Protection Program Application
Law Enforcement Protection Program Resolution
Law Enforcement Protection Program Disbursement Form
Law Enforcement Protection Program Policy and Procedure
Body Armor Standard [PDF 1.2 MB]
Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor [PDF 350 KB]
For more information please contact:
Gene Kiser
Deputy Director of Grants & Finance
502-564-2081
gene.kiser@ky.gov
or
Holly Downey
Executive Assistant to Grants & Finance Division
502-564-2081
holly.downey@ky.gov