Fairfield Police were joined yesterday by several elected officials, Fairfield County Police Chiefs and representatives from the Ukrainian American Club of Southport to announce a collaborative donation of body armor to Ukrainian defenders. (Photo courtesy Fairfield Police Department) 
Fairfield Police and police departments from throughout the area collected previously used body armor to be donated to Ukrainian citizens to assist them in protecting themselves amid the Russian invasion. (Photo courtesy Fairfield Police Department)
FAIRFIELD — Chief Robert Kalamaras is pleased to share that the Fairfield Police Department was joined yesterday by several elected officials and Fairfield County Police Chiefs to announce a collaborative donation of body armor to Ukrainian defenders.
On Monday, March 21, Fairfield Police were joined by Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick; State Senator Tony Hwang; State Rep. Laura Devlin (R-134); representatives from the Ukrainian American Club of Southport including President Mike Gudzic, his wife Carol and Roman Stanislavskyy; and representatives from the respective departments who contributed.
Together, they all announced their joint effort to donate more than 200 previously used ballistic vests and helmets from several Fairfield County Police Departments to Ukrainian defenders to assist them with protecting themselves throughout the Russian invasion of their country.
Police departments that joined the humanitarian effort included the Brookfield, Darien, Easton, Greenwich, Monroe, Norwalk, Stratford, Trumbull, Wilton, Westport and Western Connecticut State University police departments.
“As public safety professionals we’re dedicated to protecting and serving those in our communities, but it’s truly an honor and privilege of ours to be able to assist in protecting those thousands of miles away in Ukraine,” Chief Kalamaras said. “We hope that with this donation of much-needed gear, Ukrainian civilians will have the vital protection needed throughout the ongoing war.”
The body armor is just one of many items that have been specifically requested by Ukrainian aid groups and will provide critical protection for defense units that are defending their communities in Ukraine.
The collected body armor will be donated and shipped to the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council (UACC) which has been vetted by the U.S. government as an appropriate donation point for Ukraine.
The UACC is coordinating efforts to help civilian Ukrainians bravely fight for their independence and freedom through obtaining and reallocating regulated, military-grade items for personal defense. Once collected, the UACC will distribute items to Ukrainian citizens.
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