( CINCINNATI, OH ) -- Cincinnati firefighters may soon be outfitted with bulletproof vests. With recent incidents, like first responders rushing into the Cameo Nightclub when it was unknown if there was an active shooter, it's believed that the fire department needs their own bulletproof vests.
Until now, firefighters have been getting bulletproof vests second-hand from the police department when police officers get new vests or their vests become expired. And in that case, not every firefighter was given a vest, and sometimes the ones firefighters did get were no longer good for use.
Local 48 President Matt Alter says this issue is a "bottom-up" plan, meaning that everyday firefighters have voted for these vests to become reality. City council says they fully support this plan for the vests and are now asking the city administration to provide a report on the price for these vests so that they may work the money into the coming fiscal year budget.
Local 48 President Matt Alter with the new vests: