Vests, Cameras, and other gear keeping police safe

The search is still on for the man who shot a Harrison County deputy near the intersection of 605 and Highway 67 last week. The sheriff says the bulletproof vest the deputy was wearing is what saved his life.
Shot on duty, a Harrison County deputy was life-flighted to the hospital after he was blindsided in north Harrison County Friday. Even after recent violence against police increasing on a national level, local law enforcement are shocked something like this could happen here on the Coast. Lt Chris De Back with Biloxi PD said, “Anytime something like that happens, it’s tragic, not only to the law enforcement profession, but to the community.”
Multiple agencies are still searching for the shooter and the injured deputy is still recovering. The Harrison County sheriff credits the bulletproof vest the deputy was wearing for saving his life. Vests are one of the safety measures at the Biloxi Police Department. “Certainly that vest is a life saver. When you’re talking about officer safety there’s nothing more important. You know, if I can’t keep myself safe then it’s hard for me to protect the public,” said Lt. De Back.
In any given situation, Biloxi patrolman are required to keep a bulletproof vest on while on duty. “If you look over the last couple years in law enforcement, you’ve had the tasers, certainly that’s a form of protection,” said Lt. De Back.
The Biloxi Police Department has also recently implemented body cameras that automatically operate during emergency situations. Dashboard cameras that help out with investigations can also be used as another form of protection.
Although local police officers are professionally trained to defend and protect in any type of situation on a daily basis, local officers say they feel safe working here on the Coast. “In every city along the Coast and the county and even the state agencies has a good relationship with the community and that relationship is what helps us,” said Lt. De Back.