The Mountain Home Police Department has been authorized to destroy 18 sets of expired body armor and auction off a high-mileage patrol vehicle following a unanimous City Council vote on Thursday.
Police Chief Eddie Griffin explained to council members that body armor has a five-year life cycle, and the 18 sets in question—comprised of panels from Safariland, Point Blank, and Paca—are no longer serviceable. The expiration dates for these vests range from November 2024 to June 2026, according to an inventory provided during the meeting.
Griffin emphasized that expired body armor cannot be sold or repurposed. "Body armor has to be destroyed," Griffin said. "You just destroy it." This prompted some discussion, with one council member expressing surprise that the vests only last five years. Griffin likened their lifespan to that of fire department turnout gear, noting that the expiration is a practical reality outlined by manufacturers. "There’s a life cycle in order to keep you having to buy it, but it expires," he said. "It’s just the way it is."
Two additional factors make adhering to these expiration dates crucial. Federal grants that assist in funding body armor often stipulate a five-year limit, and the department’s accreditation requires all vests in service to be up to date. "That’s something to hang you up on," Griffin told the council. To test the durability of old armor, Griffin said the department’s SWAT team typically uses the expired vests for target practice.
In a separate measure, the council also approved the sale of a 2018 Ford Explorer with 105,510 miles. Griffin said the vehicle has a mechanical issue that would cost more to repair than its expected auction value. The SUV was originally scheduled for replacement next year, but Griffin recommended moving forward with its sale to avoid unnecessary repair costs. "Just to save a little money, we’re going to go ahead and get it out of here instead of investing the money on the repair," Griffin said.
The Explorer will be auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting the city. The decision to destroy the body armor and sell the vehicle passed with a 6-0 vote, supported by council members Wayne Almond, Jim Bodenhamer, Marshella Norell, Carry Manuel, Bob Van Haaren, and Susan Stockton.