Metro Nashville City Council members voted unanimously to fund $1 million for body armor for officers.
The vote was held during Tuesday night's meeting. It caused a lot of discussion among council members, who asked the chief of police a few questions about why the armor was necessary.
"Times have changed since the 60's. We now face assault type riffles; so those penetrate the vests that we wear...we don't want to depend on it until we have too," he said as he cited recent shootings like the Pulse nightclub in Orlando or the peaceful protest in Dallas.
However, not everyone agreed with the ordinance that would allow the funding. Members of the newly-formed Davidson County-Wide Community Coalition said they're against what they call the false narrative that police need military equipment to stay safe.
A few dozen protesters held a rally against an ordinance for police body armor before Tuesday night's council meeting kicked off. They demanded the council vote "no" on the resolution they said militarizes local police.
Metro Police said the equipment will protect their officers in emergency situations only.
"This body armor is intended to protect police officers against high-powered rifle fire. These vests, this ballistic armament will not be worn day-to-day. But these officers will have the equipment in their cars should they suddenly encounter a situation with a gunman firing rifle rounds," said Metro Police Spokesperson Don Aaron.
However, protesters worried it would lead to or worsen clashes like we've seen in Ferguson, Baton Rouge and other cities around the country.
"Folks are trying to protest they put on all equipment on they sic dogs on them, throw water on them, they're tripping them down the street, so they're not proving they're using this ballistic equipment for emergency moments," said protest leader Evan Bunch, "they're proving to us they're using it to keep the black community repressed."
