City police personnel will be getting extra protection against rifle-grade weapons like that used in recent deadly assaults in officers across the country.
City Council members on Tuesday gave approval for the purchase of 500 Spartan Plate plates for $109,000.
Assistant Chief David Roddy said the plates can be inserted into existing body armor.
He said, "It raises our level of propection against rifle-grade ambushes."
The assistant chief said all police personnel who interact with the public will get the protection.
Asked if the police are able to respond in the case of a rifle attack, he said that was demonstrated last July 16 in the attack on military personnel off Amnicola Highway.
He said officers were able to respond quickly utilizing rifles of their own.
The council also approved spending $50,000 to include security at police headquarters on Amnicola Highway.
That includes security upgrades to the gate, card reader access to the back lot, and fencing slats to obscure the line of sight to the back lot.