Thanks to a $7,970 grant from the Scott County Regional Authority (SCRA), Eldridge police offers are now better protected on the front lines. The grant awarded last fall was used to purchase two rifle-rated ballistic shields and 10 trauma kits that have been assigned to every officer. The equipment will provide better protection for officers who will be the first to respond to an active shooting event. Additionally, the use of the trauma kits will better equip officers to provide first aid and trauma services to citizens. The kids have already been utilized since being deployed last month. Eldridge police chief Dave Kopatich said that the equipment can make a difference between life and death, and that the purchase would not have been possible without the help of the SCRA.
