Protecting Police: Wives of Warriors foundation donates bullet vests to officers in North MS

Police officers work a dangerous job.

Their families want to help make sure they come back home each time they leave for work.

Welcome back everyone.

Police officers have a dangerous job... and their families want to help make sure they stay safe in the line of fire... w-t-v-a's bronson woodruff introduces us to one north mississippi officer who recently received a free bullet vest from an organization called "wives of warriors."

Officers at tupelo police department behind me here and other departments across north mississippi are familiar with wives of warriors.

It's a non-profit foundation made up of a few hundred women who each love an officer.

Wives, girlfriends, fiances, they all have a common interest: protecting those who protect us.

"i just want to say thank you to the wives of warriors."

Deputy sheriff taylor walker is number one hundred fifty- seven.

That's how many officers wives of warriors has donated bullet vests to since its founding in 2013.

"the vest is probably one of the most important things that we have on our equipment list, so for them to be able to donate us vests, uh, for protection, it's truly a blessing.

It really is."

Walker said it's more difficult for smaller police departments and sheriff's offices to get bullet vests, and donations are beyond appreciated.

Wives of warriors gets its money for vests from fundraising events.

According to founder kim rushing, the foundation donated forty vests this year, its highest number yet.

Its next fundraising event is coming up: an annual 5-k race.

Rushing said this year it will be virtual because of the pandemic.

She added wives of warriors donates vests once a year.

"normally around february or march, we have a fitting for the money that we raised from the race the year before."

Rushing said people can give in other ways as well, including an online auction at the end of september.

People can also donate online through the create website.

She added she wants officers to know people support them.

'it means the world to us as the family members, so i know it means a lot to them to know that there's people behind em that support em, that are on their side."

Walker"it means the world to us.

We're very thankful, especially in these times."

Walker"if anyone can, uh, if they can help them out in any way, they are truly making a difference for us in law enforcement."

If you would like to find out more about wives of warriors,