STORM LAKE, IA (Northwestiowanow) — The Storm Lake Police Department has added a new rifle-rated ballistic shield to its arsenal.

Funded in part through a grant from the Buena Vista County Community Foundation, the shield is designed to protect officers during high-risk incidents involving firearms, including barricaded subjects and active threat situations.

Officials say the need for a ballistic shield was identified during a barricaded standoff earlier this year, when officers did not have access to equipment capable of stopping rifle rounds.

The majority of the cost is covered by the grant, allowing the department to avoid delaying other equipment upgrades. The department’s matching funds will come from forfeited drug seizure money rather than taxpayer dollars.

Police say the new equipment will increase officer safety during dangerous calls and help resolve volatile situations more safely.

The shield is expected to be used during future critical incidents