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JEFFERSON CITY, MO. -- The following is a press release from the office of Missouri Governor Jay Nixon:

Gov. Jay Nixon today announced that law enforcement agencies across Missouri will share more than $817,000 in grants to obtain essential law enforcement equipment to increase officer and public safety.

Funding provided by the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance will pay for ballistic vests, squad car lightbars, sirens, in-car cameras and police radios.

“Protecting the men and women of law enforcement, who risk their lives every day to protect the people of Missouri, is one my highest priorities,” Gov. Nixon said. “This money will supply essential equipment such as bulletproof vests, radios and in-car cameras to 116 agencies across Missouri, in rural areas and in the largest metropolitan areas of the state.”

A total of $817,235 in federal Local Law Enforcement Block Grants is being awarded to 116 law enforcement agencies, including local police, sheriffs’ departments and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Grant awards are limited to a maximum of $9,000 and require a ten percent local match.

Grant recipients may choose, however, to pay for equipment expenses above $10,000.

“I talk with the state’s law enforcement leaders and rank-and-file officers on a daily basis,” Department of Public Safety Director John M. Britt said. “I know in these economic times there is a real need for this assistance, which helps protect officers and strengthen public safety.”

The funding will help pay for a total of:

• 8 vehicles
• 153 lightbars/lights
• 39 sirens/light boxes
• 155 flashlights
• 87 ballistic vests
• 433 reflective vests/protective clothing (cut-resistant gloves, raincoats, parkas)
• 40 in-car cameras
• 194 radios
• 86 car cages/partitions
• 9 trauma kits

Click here to look at the table which includes the recipient law enforcement agencies and the items for which grant funding will be used.