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March 12, 2004

For police officers in Woodbridge Township, $18,056.03 is a modest but vital contribution to the daily dollars-and-cents cost of staying alive. That is the amount of a New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice grant received by the Township that allows the Woodbridge Police to replace worn-out body armor by applying to the state's Body Armor Replacement Fund Program. "It is essential that our police officers have proper equipment to perform their mission of protecting the public," said Woodbridge Mayor Frank G. Pelzman in announcing the grant. "We are very pleased with this grant, because each penny will be used in the ongoing effort to preserve lives of dedicated public servants who put their lives on the line each day." Woodbridge Police Chief William Trenery echoed the urgency of the funding. "The grant is a supplement to money the Police Benevolent Association adds to our department budget for protective vests," he said. "We are always looking for additional money, because a vest needs to be replaced about every five years." FBI statistics show that more than 2,700 officers' lives have been saved by body armor over the last 30 years. "Every officer in our department who needs a vest has one," said Chief Trenery, adding that body armor requires the same care and maintenance as weapons, vehicles and other equipment.