After a gunman killed five police officers and wounded eleven others during a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest in Dallas in 2016, Maurine Dickey was upset that officers were not wearing armored vests.

Ms. Dickey, a former Dallas County Commissioner, and North Texas community leader established The Dickey Foundation to provide support for local first responders.

The nonprofit foundation receives support from Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, the nation’s largest barbeque chain.

The foundation provides safety equipment to first responders with their “Invest In A Vest Program” and financial assistance to fire departments to purchase special washing machines to clean toxic substances off fire fighter’s turnout coats.

The family’s original barbeque restaurant has been serving customers in Dallas for more than 80-years. 

SWAT Brothers cohost, Retired Dallas Police Lt. Bob Owens, a 40-year veteran officer with 20 years in SWAT serves on The Dickey Foundation’s Board.

In this episode with investigative reporter Robert Riggs and Owens, the foundation’s Executive Director, Betsy Orton, discusses how first responders can receive assistance to purchase safety equipment.

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SWAT Brothers is a trademarked and copyrighted news show produced by the True Crime Reporter™ podcast.

It is hosted and written by Peabody Award-Winning Investigative Reporter Robert Riggs and Retired 40-year Dallas Police Lieutenant Bob Owens who served twenty years in Dallas SWAT.

It is produced by Grace Woodward.

Send SWAT Brothers your questions about firearms, equipment, training, or any other subjects to [email protected]. We answer questions on the 3rd Friday of each month. Contact us there if you want to be a guest or recommend a guest or subject for an episode.

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