Stand First Foundation Donates First Ballistic Shield To Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office

The Rogers County Sheriff has helped start a non-profit foundation that will donate ballistic shields to law enforcement agencies that could not otherwise afford them.

The first shield was delivered today to the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office. A Pottawatomie County deputy was shot several times in October.

Sheriff Scott Walton says the goal of this foundation is to put lifesaving equipment in the hands of every law enforcement member across the country. Sheriff Scott Walton handed over the first ballistic shield today from the Stand First foundation to the Pottawatomie Sheriff's Office.

"It's a good cause, eight-pound shield.. when they work they work, and it could have lessened my event," Deputy Garey Knoles said.

Deputy Garey Knoles was shot several times in October when responding to a domestic disturbance call. Sheriff Scott Walton says he knew the first shield needed to go to Pottawatomie County.

"These are just the basic grassroots needs of equipment that can save an officer's life and you see a lot of places they just flat don't exist," Walton said.

Sheriff Scott Walton says each shield is around 700 dollars and they rely on donations.

"Right now our target is to help agencies where the money is just not there in the books to provide this kind of equipment," he said.

Deputy Knoles says it feels good knowing other members of law enforcement have his back.

He says it's important for agencies to have these shields, and it will help other deputies and officers in the future.

"These events aren't going away, every day it's another officer's gotten shot, somebody else gets shot, so the more personal protective equipment we have, the better our odds are," he said.

"Sheriff Walton says in the future they also hope to donate medical bags full of equipment like Narcan and tourniquets. To learn more about the foundation or to donate, click here.