At the end of April, Madison firefighters began having bullet-resistant vests assigned to them for added protection on any calls posing a higher risk for gunfire.

The new gear -- totaling 90 vests, weighing 20 pounds a piece and lined with heavy ceramic plates to stop rounds from handguns to high-powered rifles -- will be required for all Madison Fire Department personnel responding with police to provide medical help where bullets are or might be flying.

>> Click to read more.