Cookeville To Consider Entering Matching Grant For Safety Equipment

Cookeville City Council will consider participating in a grant to purchase safety equipment for city employees.

Human Resources Director Carl Sells said the purchase will include traffic cones, hard hats, and active shooter vests for the fire department. He said the ballistic vests will help boost the partnership between the police and fire departments.

“To provide the best immediate first responder course in an active shooter situation,” Sells said. “It will allow fire personnel to be adequately equipped to enter a hot zone if you will after the police department has cleared the particular area of the event.”

Sells said at the very least, the equipment will provide peace of mind to those responding to a situation they are as equipped as any first responder.

The grant will be a 50/50 match for funds up to $3,000. Sells said the equipment comes as part of efforts to provide a safe and hazard-free workplace for city employees.

“Hopefully it never happens,” Fire Chief Benton Young said. “But you want to be as prepared as you can for any situation.”