Carrier Choice Until a couple of years ago, almost all soft body armor was worn under the uniform. Today there are external carrier options that include carriers designed to look like part of the uniform and carriers that are very overt and capable of carrying some equipment. Opinions vary signifi cantly as to which type is more appropriate. Some police leaders dislike the tactical appear- ance of the load-bearing vests while oth- ers applaud their effi ciency and potential for increasing comfort while decreasing injuries due to back strain. Regardless of how you or your
agency feel about external carrier op- tions, suffi ce to say that an external car- rier can provide increased comfort by permitting additional air fl ow under the armor and by allowing the armor to be quickly removed when in a secure set- ting. This increased degree of comfort may mean more offi cers will wear their armor and that’s a positive that should not be overlooked. When choosing an external carrier,
make sure you choose one that is specifi - cally designed to work with your body armor panels. It is very important that the carrier holds the panels in the proper position over the vulnerable parts of the body so the armor can do its job.
Special Situations Some agencies have unique challenges such as needing a stab-resistant vest for correctional settings or a vest that is ca- pable of working with a personal fl ota- tion device for boating enforcement. One model of body armor does not necessarily fi t all situations. If you have special needs, ensure you
give proper consideration to the cover- age needed and talk to your supplier to ensure those needs are met. It is not ac- ceptable to have offi cers working with armor that will not adequately protect them or that could further endanger them because of a unique environment.
The Role of Police Leaders Body armor only works when it is worn and police leaders have a responsibility to ensure that this is happening. Mandatory wear policies have become much more common since they are now a requirement of receiving funds through the DOJ Bullet- proof Vest Partnership Program.
However, the term mandatory is some-
what misleading because there are ‘ad- ministrative exceptions’—those personnel who are allowed to go without armor, even when in uniform, because of their assign- ment. This is purportedly for those who are deemed unlikely to be in a gun battle and thus not in need of the protection afforded by a vest.
Departments have essentially made this administrative exception apply to those who have signifi cant rank and many ex- tend this exception to an offi cer who is on a training day, even if he/she is wearing a uniform and/or driving a marked unit. Reality check: Bad guys don’t care
about rank and they have no idea whether you are in a training or enforce- ment mode. An offi cer in uniform is a potential target and will be expected to engage if an incident occurs. Very few administrators actually spend their entire day sequestered within the building and, even if they do, there have been plenty of gunfi ghts inside police facilities (three of- fi cers were murdered inside their head- quarters during this past December). Instead of looking for a way to not wear armor, police leaders should set the example by always wearing armor when they’re in uniform. By the way, a police chief or sheriff who is in full uniform and wearing armor sends a very sobering message during a press conference. It’s a reminder to all that police work is serious business with an associated risk. Police managers should ensure that all personnel under their command
have access to quality body armor that meets their needs. Regardless of fund- ing source, there should be a clear man- date and expectation that anyone who is working and recognizable as an offi - cer should be protected by body armor. When necessary, leaders should hold their people accountable. It’s not fun, but it’s better to administer discipline than plan a funeral.
Conclusion According to the most recent FBI Law En- forcement Offi cers Killed and Assaulted report, many of those who are killed in the line of duty are not wearing body armor. The 2014 LEOKA study, released October of 2015, reported that during the fi ve-year period of 2010 through 2014 there were a total of 255 offi cers who were feloniously killed. Of those, 82 were not wearing armor at the time of their deaths. We know body armor works and
today’s body armor is better than any- thing we’ve previously seen. Take steps to make sure you and your personnel have the equipment and protection that is needed and then go the extra step to ensure it is used.
Dale Stockton is a 32-year-veteran of law enforcement, retiring as a police captain from Carlsbad, Calif. He is the executive director of the Below 100 program (
www.Below100.org). He may be reached at
dalestockton@gmail.com.
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