UP-CLOSE What Every Police Leader Should Know About Body Armor
Many departments allow officers to choose their level of protection within certain parameters. Before locking in, take a look at what the differences in thickness and weight are between the most common levels of coverage. Fortunately, the new generation of
armor is capable of providing approxi- mately one step increase in coverage without increasing weight and thick- ness compared to previous generations of armor. Many offi cers and depart- ments are opting for Level II cover- age, which includes most handgun rounds, even those that are full-metal jacket with the exception of high- velocity 9mm FMJ rounds and most 44 Magnum rounds. To gain additional coverage, you need
a Level III-A vest which, until recently, was often deemed too heavy and thick for regular wear. However, some offi cers are opting for the increased Level III-A protection because today’s armor tech- nology means greater coverage with less bulk and weight. It’s strongly suggested that you do your due diligence, evaluate your options, and choose what is going to stop the majority of your threats while not being too uncomfortable. Remember, a vest not worn provides zero protection.
Fit and Care of Body Armor Body armor must fi t properly to provide maximum protection and there are some basic guidelines that apply to everyone. First, make sure you have full side-panel protection with a slight degree of over- lap that permits the front panel to actually extend over the back panel. This overlap should be equal on both sides. Side cover- age should extend upward suffi ciently to protect the chest cavity without intruding into the armpit area, where it would cause chafi ng or discomfort. Make sure you have a slight gap (approximately 1–2 inches) between your armor and your gun belt when you are in a standing position. If you don’t, the vest will ride up when you are seated in a vehicle and will, over time, develop a curl at the bottom of the vest, which can decrease its effective coverage. Make sure you don’t wear your body armor too tight or you could experience limited range of motion and even diffi culty breathing during heavy exertion like a foot pursuit. Body armor causes increased body heat and this means per- spiration which, in turn, means the user has to be able to clean the armor. In general, the focus of cleaning should be on the carrier and not the armor panels. The carrier should either be washed by hand or, if manufacturer directions allow, machine
50 LAW and ORDER I May 2016
Get properly fitted for your body armor. If it ‘shrinks’ over the years, get new armor, or get yourself back into shape.
washed on a gentle cycle. If you fi nd the need to clean the armor panels, do so by wiping them down with a damp rag. Never use solvents, deodorizers, bleach, etc. on the panels themselves because you could actually degrade the armor. When you put the armor back into the carrier, make sure you have the panels facing the way the manufacturer intended. Fail- ing to do so could decrease the effectiveness of the armor. When you are not wearing your armor, lay it out fl at rather than plac- ing it on a hanger. This helps to ensure the armor maintains its intended shape and will make for more comfortable wear. If your armor no longer fi ts properly because it has ‘shrunk’
as you got bigger, you have two choices: 1) Get fi tted with new armor for proper coverage; or 2) Get yourself back down to the size and shape when you were fi tted for your current armor. Failure to do so means you’ve got areas that are not covered and you are decreasing the benefi t of having body armor.
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