ESCANABA -- The Delta County Sheriff's Department received two new shields last month through a federal grant. They have a unique feature: the shields have special lights on them. The different flash patterns of the lights can blind the person posing a threat to officers.
While the shields weigh about 35 pounds each, they can be easily adjusted by a strap. Officers will use them when responding to school shootings or situations in the jail or government buildings.
"Basically what the officers would do is as they're going down searching through the hallways in the building, they could have this out in front of them," said Delta County Sheriff, Gary Ballweg. "It'll protect them from any projectiles or bullets and can fend off knives or other objects coming at them."
According to Ballweg, every county in the Upper Peninsula was able to obtain the new shields.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC