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FAIRFIELD, IOWA --

Kevlar may stop bullets, but that doesn't mean it lasts forever.

And no law enforcement officer wants to break down a suspect's door wearing a bullet proof vest that is no longer bullet proof.

As of Thursday morning Jefferson County law enforcement officers no longer have this worry.

A gracious response to a community fundraising effort has allowed the county's special response team to purchase 10 new kevlar vests for the 10 member Special Response Team.

The vests cost $1,800 a piece.

"The nice thing about the community itself was they understand and they are very gracious in donating to this cause," Chief Deputy Gergg Morton says.

 Morton expained wednesday morning why the old vests were endangering officers lives.

"Kevlar that's in these vests has an expiration date on it. between sweat, body sweat and them being out and exposed, they do have an expiration date on them and we went well beyond the expiration date of these vests."

Morton says kevlar vests last between seven and 10 years.

Community Donors: The Greater Jefferson County Foundation, Raymond Funeral Home, H&H Mould and Tooling, Everybody's Inc, Hollander Inusrance Inc, America Diamond, Yummie's Gourmet Cakes, Josie Hannes Designs, Fairfield Farm and Home Real Estate, Behner Funeral Home and Crematory Inc., Libertyville Savings Bank, Mark Logli, RPM Automotive, Karl Metcalf, Fesler's Inc. Smithburg Automotive Inc, Gamray-Doyle and Associates Inc, Iowa State Bank and Trust, Fairfield Foods (McDonald's) , Bob's Automotive, Cellular Concepts, Fairfield Tire and Service.