Bonner County Deputies Get Vests

The Bonner County Sheriff’s Department will get new bullet-proof vests after all.

Commissioners unanimously approved a plan to match a federal grant with money from three different areas within the justice fund.

Unlike a previous proposal to tap the county’s statutory reserve fund, the new funding plan didn’t require a unanimous vote.

Last week, Commissioner Bud Mueller voted against using statutory fund money toward buying 26 bullet- and stab-proof vests.

Mueller said he would vote in favor only if the sheriff and deputies agreed to drop their lawsuit against the county. The sheriff refused.

The lawsuit, pending in 1st District Court, accuses the county of failing to provide enough money to adequately staff and protect sheriff’s deputies. In their complaint, deputies listed the lack of money for the vests as a cause for the suit.