LAPLACE – A St. Charles Parish family donated $25,000 to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office for the purchase of enhanced bullet-resistant vests for sheriff’s deputies.

The new vests include ceramic plates that are designed to protect officers from high-powered rifles, said Lt. Joe Ganote, commander of the Sheriff’s SRT/Special Response Team.

The Smith family, whose members include the owners of the Magnolia Companies of Louisiana and state Sen. Gary Smith Jr., made the donation in December.

Other members of the family are company C.E.O. Glen Smith and Gary Smith Sr., the firm’s president.

“This generous donation will help the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office to provide our officers the extra level of protection needed to survive an attack,” Sheriff Greg

Champagne said. “We appreciate the concern that Magnolia Companies and the Smith family has demonstrated to enable our officers to return home safely.”