Lubbock Police Push for Lighter Body Armor

By Isabeth Castillo, isabetca@ttu.edu

Lubbock law enforcement is once again applying for a state grant to fund rifle-resistant body armor, to ensure protection as crime trends shift with the growing city.

The grant awarded Lubbock County nearly $99,000 through the Texas Office of the Governor's Rifle-Resistant Body Armor Grant Program for the fiscal year 2026. They are still awaiting a response for this year's grant.

With officer safety and policing technology at the forefront of recent discussions, the Texas Office of the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division has provided this grant to support law enforcement.

For Public Information Officer Tracie Manthei, the goal is to ensure officers are protected, even if they never have to rely on their body armor.

“I think we’ve seen an increase in violent activity in general, just as Lubbock grows and nationwide, so we want to do the best we can to protect our officers,” Manthei said.

The funds are provided through the BG-Rifle-Resistant Body Armor Grant Program, and are designed to ensure officers have the protective gear needed to stay safe in high-risk situations they may face while on duty.

Manthei says what many may not know is that the body armor has an expiration date and constantly needs to be repurchased.

With the grant covering the cost, taxpayers won’t bear the financial burden.

“I don't see body armor going away,” Manthei said. “It's going to be a required piece of equipment, so any way that we can help the taxpayers out by not having you guys foot that bill because it is a piece of equipment we do need to have.”

After reapplying for the grant, the department is set to receive another 50 sets of body armor this year, following 50 awarded last year.

This new armor stands out due to its significantly lighter design, with plates weighing just 2.2 pounds each compared to the traditional 7 to 8 pound ceramic plates. The reduced weight helps minimize strain on officers, improving comfort and mobility.

Beyond upgraded body armor, the department is exploring drones for monitoring and evaluating potential threats.

While still in early discussions, officials see drones as a critical tool for de-escalation and crisis response.

“We're just dipping our toe in that now,” said Captain Anthony Castillo, so I can't speak a whole lot about it, but it is a great tool that we look forward to utilizing soon.”

The purpose of drone deployment is to gather crucial information before officers enter potentially dangerous situations, with the goal of minimizing risk and preventing harm.

“We’d rather see it, you know, without having to enter the same room,” Castillo said. “Because once you identify the problem, we can attack the problem, right?”

As Lubbock continues to expand and law enforcement adjusts to evolving threats, officials say investments in protective gear will remain a top priority.