Rio Campus Police receives equipment donation

From left, Sargent Sean McIntyre, Chief Scott Borden, Officer Zach Johnson, Chris Jackson and Officer Casey Williams. Submitted photo.

RIO GRANDE, Ohio – The University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College Campus Police works all hours to keep the campus and Rio community safe. To recognize their efforts, Chris Jackson from Squared Away Surplus donated a brand new police vest to the department. Rio’s Chief of Police, Scott Borden, was honored to receive the donation.

“We appreciate Chris’s generous gift to the department,” Borden said. “The donation means a lot to us because it lets us know our community wants to keep their officers safe.”

Borden said the donated Tactical Ballistic Carrier is a type of police vest is specially equipped with steel plating meant to block the impact of firearms such as rifles.

“We hope we never have to use the vest outside of a drill, but it will help keep our officers safe if an emergency situation were to occur,” Borden said. “Keeping our officers safe allows them to better protect and serve our community.”

Chris Jackson of Squared Away Surplus (Left) presents the Tactical Ballistic Carrier vest to Rio’s Sargent Sean McIntyre (Right). Submitted photo.

“Chris has worked in law enforcement after his military service in Afghanistan and Iraq and worked part time for us on occasion. His business specializes in selling police gear, so its humbling to know that someone who could have made a profit from this thinks highly enough of the department and the university to choose forgo the profit and turn it into a gift to our department,” Borden said. “I was pleasantly surprised by this donation and I am very thankful for his generosity and his service to our country.”

Borden said the vest will enhance the department’s efforts to keeping the Rio community safe. Campus police also provides escorts to students and employees who may feel uncomfortable walking to their vehicles alone and offers vehicle unlock and jumpstart assistance to students, employees and guests. Anyone needing assistance from Rio’s police department while on campus for a non-emergency can call 740-245-7286.