On April 17, the Brother Rice Student Council sponsored a dress down day for “Get Behind the Vest,” an initiative that helps provide bulletproof vests for Chicago police officers.

Brother Rice students and their CPD parents were on hand to present a check for $1,625 to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation.

A bulletproof vest has a life of about fiveyears, and the replacement cost is approximately $500. Police officers are given a vest when they initially join the force, but they must replace their vests on a regular basis because the materials wear out and break down.

A bullet will permanently damage a vest, thereby making it unusable. Therefore, it is vital that police officers have updated bulletproof vests to remain safe while on the duty.