Donation Outfits Milwaukee Police With New Ballistic Shields

MILWAUKEE, WI — Milwaukee police districts around the city are being equipped with new tactical ballistic shields for officers to respond to high-risk calls, according to a news release on Tuesday from police.

The new shields, which can withstand rifle rounds and are meant to better protect officers in life-threatening situations, were purchased with a donation from Minnesota-based liquor distributor Johnson Brothers, which has operated in Milwaukee since 1975, the news release said. The Milwaukee Police Foundation used the donation to purchase the shields.

"The purchase of these lifesaving ballistic shields represents our core mission at the
Foundation - to help provide critical tools and resources the MPD needs to build community
trust and provide for officer safety and wellness," said Mark McClain, President of the
Milwaukee Police Foundation in the release.

Each police district will have the shields available for patrol officers, the release said.

Johnson Brothers of Wisconsin President Bill Anderson said the donation is "our way of saying 'thank you' and a token of our appreciation for the critical work they do every day in keeping our community safe."