OVERLAND PARK - U.S. Senator Roger Marshall announced at a Friday press conference, a shipment of protective equipment to Ukrainian military forces provided by Kansas law enforcement.
Among the protective equipment being donated were approximately 300 vests and 50 helmets. The equipment varies in size and level of protection but will be distributed to both military and law enforcement officials within Ukraine.
Senator Marshall was joined by Eudora Police Chief Wes Lovett; Mike Bergmeier, owner of ShieldAg; and Daniel Rauchholz, owner of Farmada – Kansans who were instrumental in the collection of the protective equipment.
“We have all been inspired by the courage and bravery of the Ukrainian people and very few days go by in my life that somebody doesn’t ask, ‘What can we do to help the people of Ukraine?’ All this equipment is a testament of what Kansans do when we come together – more than 300 vests and 50 helmets all donated from 20 different Kansas law enforcement departments and agencies. These donations will help military and law enforcement officials in Ukraine and save lives,” said Senator Marshall.
Donations of the protective equipment were collected from Carbondale Police Department, Colby Police Department, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office, Eudora Police Department, Fort Hays State University Police, Haven Police Department, Kansas Attorney General’s Office, Leavenworth Police Department, McPherson Police Department, Overland Park Police Department, Park City Police Department, Riley County Police Department, University of Kansas Office of Public Safety, Wellington Police Department, and Wichita State University Police Department.
Senator Marshall’s staff is working with the Ukrainian Embassy to ship the items to Poland and they will then be moved into Ukraine and provided to Ukrainian military forces.