LAFAYETTE, La. (The Daily Advertiser)– Lafayette Police officers soon will be a little more protected.

The Lafayette City-Parish Council on Tuesday authorized $120,000 in emergency funding to buy new helmets and other riot gear for the police department’s 269 officers.

Baton Rouge has experienced protests after the July 5 shooting death of resident Alton Sterling at the hands of police officers. That incident plus another shooting death at the hands of police in Minnesota led to protests in several cities across the nation.

Twice in the past two weeks, Baton Rouge officials requested Lafayette Police officers remain on standby to pitch in if they were needed, Mayor-President Joel Robideaux said.

When Lafayette Police Chief Reginald Thomas checked their gear, he realized “they weren’t going to be adequately protected,” Robideaux said.

LPD has only 30 helmets for 269 officers and the helmet were purchased in 1970, Thomas said.

“Our officers need to go into crowds if any protests happen, also to help our neighbors out, especially areas with problems like Baton Rouge,” he said. “We want them to have the proper equipment and they don’t have the correct equipment at this time.”

Thomas said each officer, when he’s hired, is provided an armored vest, but the $120,000 will purchase new helmets and other vests and riot gear to offer them further protection. Each patrol car will have the equipment in them with the new purchases, he said.