SUMMERDALE, Ala. - The Summerdale Town Council unanimously approved a motion at Monday's council meeting to require town police officers to wear a bullet-proof, protective vest while on duty.

"We're applying for a new grant which will make it mandatory for them to wear the vests," Mayor David Wilson said.

The decision came on the heels of Frankie "Eddie" Ingram being named the new police chief for the town.

Mandatory wearing of the protective vests is the beginning of an overhaul of the police department's standard operating procedures. Ingram will revamp the procedures, but the decision to make it mandatory for officers to wear the vests was needed immediately to receive the grant, Wilson said.