Student wants to buy police new bullet-proof vests

Five years ago, Boiling Spring Lakes police officer Mitch Prince was shot killed in the line of duty. His legacy has inspired a high school senior project to help protect officers.

South Brunswick High student Rachael Devlin is collecting donations to help buy each officer on the BSL police force a bullet proof vest. Devlin says the idea came to her while driving over the Ofc. Prince Memorial Bridge on Highway 87 each day.

Right now, the department has outdated vests from 2002, and the protective material inside them has started to deteriorate.

“It feels great that I’m actually helping somebody and not just a project to graduate, but actually reaching out to the community,” Devlin said.

Devlin collected more than $1,000 over the past two days, but she still needs about $5,000 more.

If you’d like to help, send us an e-mail at newsroom@wwaytv3.com.