After receiving over 130 applications for the 23 sets of Ballistic Shields that were available, ILEAS is announcing the awardees. A review board consisting of ILEAS Special Teams Staff, Special Team Field Commander and a Regional Co-Chair reviewed the entire body of applications and pared that down to a smaller sub-set for specific analysis.
Considering stated need based on a number of factors to include; financial, geography, history and willingness to share the assets, the following agencies were selected:
Caseyville PD
Dewitt County SO
Glencoe Public Safety
Hoopeston
Jersey County SO
Knox County SO
Marion County SO
Marshall County SO
McLeansboro PD
Morgan County SO
Moultrie County SO
Piatt County SO
Richland County SO
Rochelle PD
Rock Falls PD
Round Lake Heights PD
Sandwich PD
Shiloh PD
Skokie PD
Steger PD
Sterling PD
WIU Ofc of Public Safety
Woodford County SO
Each agency will receive a Ballistic Rifle and Pistol Shield. To qualify, a member of each department will be required to attend a 40 hour Ballistic Shield Instructor Course and take possession of the equipment at the ILEAS Training Center in Urbana.
Providing a way for agencies and established multi-jurisdictional response teams to acquire ballistic shields and other safety type equipment has long been a priority for ILEAS and will continue to be in the future. This represents the third round of purchases for a total of 52 sets (104) of shields supplied. As funds become available additional sets of shields will be purchased so that agencies that were not selected at this time, may possibly be in the future.