AUSTIN, Texas — Travis County Sheriff’s deputies will soon have more protection.

The Travis County Commissioners Court approved the purchase of rifle resistant vests for all its deputies as well as for Constable Precincts One through Five, TNR park rangers, and Travis County fire marshals.

In her presentation to commissioners, Sheriff Sally Hernandez stressed the importance of protecting the women and men who protect our communities.

In August, 2017, Travis County failed to qualify for a statewide grant that could have provided funding for these vests. TCSO staff members sought alternate funding.

The funding comes from savings after the Commissioners Court approved a new contract to Aramark Corrections Services to run the kitchen operations at the TCSO’s correctional facilities.

TCSO also had a one-time savings of $200,000 from selling on-hand food inventory to Aramark.