Release #164-98

Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958
Marilyn Mode (212) 374-6700 (NYPD)
Robert Leonard (212) 843-8055 (Police Foundation)

MAYOR GIULIANI, POLICE COMMISSIONER SAFIR & DAN AYKROYD URGE NEW YORKERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE BULLET-RESISTANT VEST FUND

TV's "Soul Man" Makes Contribution To Campaign To Equip NYPD Officers With New, State-of-the-Art Bullet-Resistant Vests

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Police Commissioner Howard Safir joined television and film star Dan Aykroyd today in urging New Yorkers to contribute to the New York City Police Foundation's $2 million Bullet-Resistant Vest Campaign. The campaign will provide police officers with18,000 new National Institute of Justice Certified Threat Level II vests . The Level II vest is the minimal level vest capable of stopping 9mm rounds.

"Last month, the Police Commissioner and I were at Bellevue Hospital to kickoff the New York City Police Foundation's fundraising drive for bullet-resistant vests," Mayor Giuliani said. "Standing with us that day were members of the Police Department who all had one thing in common -- their lives were saved by bullet-resistant vests. Over the past three decades, the lives of 74 New York City Police Officers have been saved by bullet-resistant vests. These officers and their families can attest to the importance of the vests.

"There is now a new model vest that offers even greater protection for police officers," the Mayor continued. "But thousands of officers who joined the Force before July 1989 have not yet been issued the latest in state-of-the-art protection. That is why the City and the private sector have joined forces to equip thousands of officers with the protection they deserve. We owe every member of the Force this protection because they put their lives on the line for us each and every day. I would like to thank Dan Aykroyd for his support and generous donation to the Vest Fund. I urge all New Yorkers to contribute to this life-saving cause."

Police Commissioner Safir said, "Today I want to thank Dan Aykroyd for his generous support for our police officers and also to thank the other New Yorkers who have stepped forward to make contributions. Every day New York City police officers willingly face danger so that the rest of us can be safe."

Mr. Aykroyd said, "My work on 'Soul Man' has brought both myself and my family back to a new and revitalized New York City and I am more than happy to give something back to the men and women who risk their lives every day to protect myself and my family. The men and women of law enforcement are heroes to all of us and they deserve the best protection possible. I strongly urge all New Yorkers to give generously to this worthy cause."

Pamela D. Delaney, Executive Director of the New York City Police Foundation, said, "The Mayor and Police Commissioner have returned our City to a place where people want to work and raise a family. Any contribution will help protect our officers while they protect us."

Founded in 1971, the New York City Police Foundation works to support the Police Department's efforts to strengthen its relationship to the community and promote public safety in New York City. Through the support of individual businesses and philanthropies, the Foundation has been able to invest over $16 million in police projects to help the Police Department improve the quality of its service to the public.

Individuals or groups interested in donating to the Vest Fund should call the New York City Police Foundation at (212) 751-8170.

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