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  • Stephens County Sheriff Wayne McKinney accepts a check from Valda Nicholson. The check will go to purchase bullet-proof vests for McKinney’s deputies. David Laughlin

    Giving back to the community
August 18, 2010

Suiting up safely

Kiwanis Club raises money for Sherrifs Department

David Laughlin The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — On the outside Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies may look bulletproof. But, as nature would have it, they aren’t. To help make them as safe as possible the Duncan Chisholm Trail Kiwanis Club has raised enough money for seven deputies to have new kevlar vests.

Valda Nicholson presented Stephens County Sheriff Wayne McKinney with a check Friday afternoon. Although it was just a piece of paper, the significance of the check is unparalleled. That check was an empowerment to McKinney and the rest of those who work for him. That check meant someone will come home safe, maybe with a bruise and a sore chest, but they will come home.

“We know the importance of vests,” Nicholson said. “We as a club decided to help out.”

The vests aren’t cheap. McKinney said on average he pays close to $900 a vest.

“We found a vendor that will supply them to us for $500 a piece,” he said.

The vests have a life span of five years. Just like any other article of clothing, the vests wears out eventually. A worn out vest is two-fold. On one hand it means it was worn and it protected the user. On the other, it’s protective attributes could be diminished, putting the user in harms way.

“These vests are made of kevlar,” McKinney said. “A guy wears these things everyday. They are not very comfortable.”

McKinney appreciates the efforts of Nicholson and the entire Duncan Chisholm Trail Kiwanis Club.

“Words can’t even begin to describe it,” McKinney said. “We have so much outreach from the community. It makes you feel good.”

McKinney said he only lacks about five new vests to have all of his deputies outfitted with new protective wear. He has 18 full-time deputies including himself and 21 reserve deputies. The Stephens County Sheriff’s Reserve aren’t all covered, but McKinney said he is doing all he can to equip them as well.

“They are like a volunteer fire department,” he said. “They do their own fundraisers to get stuff done. I try to help them out the best I can, but it’s tough. I couldn’t get my job done without my reserves.”

Nicholson’s goal, along with the Duncan Chisholm Trail Kiwanis Club’s goal is to get at least 15 more vests for the sheriff’s office.

“If everyone in the community put $10 to help this, we could have vests for everyone in law enforcement,” he said. “I want all of our deputies to have vests. Times are tough, but I want them to be safe.”

The vests weren’t the first thing the Duncan Chisholm Trail Kiwanis Club has put its hands to for law enforcement in Stephens County and Duncan. Nicholson said it contributes trauma blankets to the Duncan Police Department and the sheriff’s department. He says he wants to ensure every law enforcement vehicle has a blanket in it.

His motive for the trauma blankets stems from an incident that happened years ago. Two deceased victims were left uncovered because the responding law enforcement officials didn’t have anything to cover them up with. With a trauma blanket in every vehicle, that incident will not be repeated.

“People helping people,” McKinney said. “That’s why it is nice to be a part of this community.”



— David Laughlin is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. He can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 144, or via e-mail at david.laughlin@duncanbanner.com

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