Blog: Vests for Afghanistan Police Forces

March 13, 2007

Afghanistan National Police receive security vests

The 400 security vests collected and donated by US police forces in California and shipped by Spirit of America under our Vests for Afghanistan project have been distributed to the Afghanistan National Police (ANP). Scot Munns, Army liaison who was involved in receipt and distribution of the vests reports that the following Divisions benefitted from this contribution:

100 to Police Division 9
15 to the Stand by Police for SWAT team use
50 to the ANP conducting security at the US Base Camp Alamo in Kabul, Afghanistan
100 to the Afghanistan Border Police working at the Kabul International Airport
150 to the ANP conducting security outside the US Embassy in Kabul

These photos provided by Mr. Munns show the Chief of Police at District 9 Station, Colonel Abdul Khaliq who is holding the donated vests. Colonel Khaliq is shaking hands with Police Advisor Randy Brown.

May 30, 2005

SoA will continue to provide protective gear to Afghanistan Security Forces

Spirit of America is pleased to announce that we will continue our partnership with California Policeman, Captain John Skipper, to provide much-needed protective equipment to Afgahni Police Forces. Providing for the safety of local law enforcement reflects America's support for stability and reconstruction there – and recognition that a failure to stabilize Afghanistan would have consequences for the global campaign against terrorism

March 29, 2005

Bullet-proof vests will protect police forces in Afghanistan

As the role of local law enforcement becomes increasingly important in securing and sustaining freedom and democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan, having the right equipment is key to the success of security personnel in those countries. John Skipper, a Captain with the Redondo Beach, California police department, understands the importance of being protected "on the job." Having the right protective equipment can literally be a matter of life and death for a police officer, whether here in the US or in the Middle East. So Captain Skipper worked in cooperation with agencies throughout California to purchase 600 bullet-proof vests for Afghan police in Kabul. He enlisted Spirit of American's help in transporting those vests into Afghanistan, and the vests were presented at a ceremony in early February that was attended by representatives from U.S. State Dept., the Afghan National Police General in charge of all training for that agency as well as other ranking Afghan Police officials.

You can read more about this initiative on the project page "Vest for Afghanistan".

We are grateful for the opportunity to assist Captain Skipper in providing this vital protective gear to those courageous officers who, like thier counterparts in the US, risk their lives to insure the well-being of others.