State officials will distribute nearly $3.6 million to more than 500 New Jersey law enforcement agencies to buy or replace body armor vests for their officers. The awards announced today by state Attorney General Paula Dow will be given to state, county and local law enforcement and corrections agencies.

Officials say grants were given to all 544 agencies that applied, and the minimum grant amount awarded is $500.

Funding for the grants comes from New Jersey’s Body Armor Replacement Fund, which was established by legislation in 1998. It has funded through a $1 surcharge on traffic tickets and forfeitures of bail. AP.