With Violence on Rise, Louisiana Department Wants Protective Gear for Firefighters

The Shreveport Fire Department in Louisiana wants its firefighters to have protective vests similar to those police officers wear because they sometimes encounter violent people at emergency scenes.

The Shreveport Times reports that the department already has dozens of vests strategically placed in fire stations.

The agency also has a 12-member focus group that’s been exploring other ideas aimed at safety. Those include body cameras and training known as Management of Aggressive Behavior.

Fire officials say violence at emergency scenes has been on the rise. They say that after a resident was fatally shot by Shreveport police in 2013, someone charged at firefighters and tried to harm them.