NATCHEZ — Adams County’s patrol deputies and narcotics agents are armored up after they received 25 new bulletproof vests Wednesday.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office was awarded an $8,125 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bulletproof Vest Partnership. The funds received were a 50-percent match for the purchase of the 25 Second Chance-brand vests.

The ACSO was one of 61 Mississippi law enforcement jurisdictions to receive the grant this year. While the ACSO has been awarded the vest grant in the past, it has been several years.

Sheriff Chuck Mayfield said the life of a bulletproof vest could be a matter of life or death for an officer.

“It’s been about 10 years since we’ve been awarded anything like this,” said. “The average life of one of these vests is five years. And every day, the safety of our deputies is of utmost priority, so to be able to offer 25 officers newer and safer gear is a great feeling.”