N
o other single piece of law enforcement
safety equipment has more saves and sent more offi cers home to their families than soft body armor. The exact number of saves is unknown, but virtually everyone fa- miliar with the issue is confi dent that the number is well over 3,000 offi cers.
That is 3,000 families, departments and communities that did not have to go through the absolutely devastating experience of losing a police offi cer. For those of us who have had the privi- lege of visiting the National Memorial, you know how sobering the experience is. Imagine if there were 3,000 more names on that wall. The cost in human suffering is virtually incalculable. Not only has body armor saved law enforcement lives, in many situations it has allowed offi cers to go on the offensive and triumph over their opponents. The widespread use of body armor is one of the primary reasons that offi cer deaths by gunfi re are down so signifi cantly. Last year (2015), there were 39 offi cers who were killed by hostile gunfi re. Compare that with 40 years ago (1975) when body armor was a rarity and 144 offi cers fell to gunfi re.
Ten years later (1985), that number dropped to 75. In 1995, the gunfi re loss was 70 and in 2005, it was 53. There has been a steady decline in gunfi re deaths as the use of body armor has become increasingly common for uniformed patrol offi cers. The dramatic decline in death by gunfi re is unprecedented in the history of U.S. law enforcement and, considering the huge increase in the number of guns being sold, it’s unlikely that it’s due to gun control laws. Other factors such as improved tactics, the availability of advanced life support and, during the past few years, the use of tourniquets, have played a role. However, there is no deny- ing that body armor has played a major role in driving down line-of-duty deaths.
Although body armor isn’t yet being worn by every offi cer, it’s become much more the rule than the exception for those in uniform. More offi cers are wearing body armor due to a com- bination of better product offerings, better training, mandatory wear policies, funding assistance, and a general recognition that armor really does work.
Selection
If you haven’t examined the ‘new’ generation of body armor, you are in for a surprise. There are noticeably better armor of- ferings than even fi ve years ago. Recent developments in armor technology are capable of providing a higher level of protection with less bulk and greater fl exibility at price points that are sur- prisingly affordable. Offi cers can now embrace a higher degree of protection (higher threat level) without being burdened by thick, heavy and unwieldy armor. There are a number of important considerations when you are choosing your armor. First, select the appropriate level of protection. At a minimum, you need to have armor that will stop the ammunition that you and your fellow offi cers are car-
Your body armor should be rated to stop your own duty gun and ammo. Photo courtesy of Point Blank Enterprises.
rying. Friendly fi re or the disarmed offi cer’s weapon in the hand of a suspect is just as deadly as any other. So, select the threat level of body armor that is rated to stop your own duty gun and issue load.
Second, after this basic determination, consider what you know as to the environment where you work and what you would likely see on the street in terms of weaponry. With the exception of long guns, it’s possible to stop almost anything you are likely to face with today’s soft body armor. Third, be realistic about what you will wear. Yes, it’s pos- sible to stop almost everything—including most long guns— by donning the highest level of armor coverage. But the reality is that you won’t actually wear that vest because it will be so heavy and so cumbersome that you will be incapable of doing your basic day-to-day activities.
Any armor that is worn is better than armor left in the locker. That said, you want to make sure that coverage is adequate.
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