Monday, April 15, 2024

What Kind Of Body Armor Do Police Wear

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Use The Trauma Pad On The Bulletproof Vest

Police encouraged to wear vests at stations

Many cops like the back pocket in their carrier that holds the trauma pad. Too often, cops will place their backup gun holster or cell phone in it. Dont do that! Use it for the trauma pad, as it has been designed for. If the wearer is shot in the vest, the trauma pads will reduce the bruising that occurs.

What Guarantees Should I Look For When Purchasing Armor

Almost all body armor companies provide some type of guarantee along with a manufacturers warranty, but not all of these safeguards are created equally. Be sure you review and fully understand the scenarios in which each vest will be covered before you buy. If a business isnt willing to back their products, that should tip you off to a potential safety hazard, fraudulent product marketing or just a bad customer service experience youre likely to run into down the road. Safe Life Defense proudly stands behind all of our armor and the people who wear it by offering three types of guarantees on top of a traditional warranty. Check out our offerings below:

  • The Manufacturer WarrantySafe Life Defense provides a 5-year manufacturer warranty on all of our ballistic panels and plates. We also offer a 2-year warranty on all of our carriers and our belts come with a lifetime warranty. In the rare instance that you encounter any defects, well have your back.

Stab And Spike Protection

Many are under the impression that a bullet proof vest is suitable for protection against knives and other similar weapons. However, the way a bullet impacts on body armor is very different to the impact of edged and spiked weapons. This is why edged blade proof vests are separate to bullet proof vests, but there is also spike protection to consider. Many use the words stab, spike and edged blade interchangeably, referring to any armor that protects against something other than ballistics. The preferred terms are edged blade and spike, which are different threats respectively. Nevertheless, many will refer to spike protection as stab protection, and vice versa.

Just as ballistic protection will not protect against edged weapons, so too will edged blade protection not protect against spiked weapons. An edged blade, like a knife, cuts through the protective fabric instead of getting trapped within the fibers like a bullet does. While stab proof vests still utilise Kevlar® or similar materials like a bullet resistant vest, they also require added materials like chainmail or laminate to stop edged weapons from cutting the protective fibers.

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Police Uniforms & Law Enforcement Equipment

In the field of public safety, law enforcement officers are faced with a unique set of challenges on a day-to-day basis. Because of this, they require an abundance of quality law enforcement gear that they can depend on as well as crisp uniforms that won’t damage easily. Here at Galls, we do just that and more. From patrol/active-duty officers to corrections and SWAT teams, Galls has all the law enforcement gear and equipment needed to complete those grueling tasks.Galls only carries premium brands to ensure a high-quality selection of police uniforms and equipment. These brands include LawPro, 5.11 Tactical, ASP, Propper, High Speed Gear, Safariland and much more.

How Police Uniforms Are Getting Scarier Too

What Level Body Armor Does The Police Wear?

As Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality continue across the world, from America to Nigeria, plenty of observers havepointedout that the police are looking less like cops and more like the military . With helmets, tactical gear, shields, and belts adorned with an array of weapons, police departments are routinely showing up to peaceful protests dressed as if they are ready to fight.

But before mass protests broke out this year, police didnt always dress to scare, right? Not exactly. Even when police across America do their normal duties , their uniforms have evolved into something intimidating. Over time theyve been styled to look like urban soldiers: not there to serve, but to impose.

Theres always been some overlap between military and police uniforms. In 1869 Los Angeles, the first police outfits were straight-up U.S. army uniforms, surplus that was repurposed from the Union Army in the Civil War.

New York City was similar: Although they might have come out of the military, early uniforms werent particularly as rough-and-ready: with tall custodian helmets and big brass buttons, officers would sometimes seem to be dressed for a night at the theater rather than patrolling the streets. In New York City, it took convincing for police to even put on uniforms, complaining that they were no serfs, suggesting that they didnt want to be seen as servants for the people of New York.

Read Also: What College Classes Are Required To Become A Police Officer

How Should I Store My Body Armor

If you want your body armor to last, you must store it properly. Improper storage can degrade performance and increase your risk. If you have your armor bunched up, rolled or placed on an unstable edge you may be inadvertently reducing its effectiveness.

Best practices include storing your vest in a room temperature environment where it can lie flat or on a hanger, and be kept away from direct sunlight, dirt, chemicals and moisture. Always avoid leaving your armor in a hot vehicle for an extended period of time and placing other items on top of it. For travel purposes, we recommend utilizing a Safe Life Defense Body Armor Carry and Storage Bag for added convenience and protection.

Impact And Ballistic Protection Of Police Body Armour:

The modern body armour is divided into two sections:

A soft vest that protects against fragmentation and hard plates that defend against armour-piercing gunfire.

To shield a body part from impact, the protective layer should be immediately over it at the time of impact. To put it in a simpler way, well-fitting armour is snug and secured against the body at all times. The most effective way for body armour to work is for it to be specifically shaped to the individuals shape.

Even when money was not an issue, making personalized armour for each individual would be impracticable. It would also be impossible to keep up with the natural changes in an individuals body structure over time, as well as personnel turnover.

Only a few such as two to five sizes of body armour are available to accommodate a wide range of torso shapes and sizes. This is primarily because of the high cost of ballistic materials and the production process. Also, the number of sizes was chosen to provide more economical protection rather than the optimum protection.

Just like the medieval steel breastplates, early plate designs emphasized protection over mobility. It aimed at covering the full front and much of the sides of the body as feasible.

Sizing and fit must rely on adjustability characteristics when there are so few sizes. The present soft armour vest is designed with limited torso circumference and strap length adjustment.

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Protecting The Pedestrian Officer

LEOs rank among the highest number of “struck-by” fatalities of any responders. Could helmets be one answer to this safety crisis?

Its uncomfortable. Its hot. It interferes with how I move. It costs too much. It wont protect me if____ happens

It might be safe to assume these statements relate to why an officer wouldnt want to wear body armor. And while there may be some truth to these utterances, the data and the number of lives saved because of that piece of equipment clearly support the logic of cops wearing body armor.

From the early 1970s to now, ballistic armor technology has continued to improve, alongside changing attitudes from police leadership toward providing and encouraging its use on duty. Ballistic vests have become lighter and stronger, capable of affording more protection than ever before. When the right people come together to tackle a problem, the result for officers on the street can be a huge boost in confidence that at the critical moment, your equipment can save your life.

We need to have another campaign like that, and it must happen much faster.

On January 11, 2020, police officers and fire department responders were working the scene of a motor vehicle crash along an icy roadway in Lubbock, Texas. As is all too often the case at emergency highway incidents, another motorist approaching that scene lost control and a second crash occurred.

Full Body Armor Fba Eng4400

Man wore body armor, police-style uniform to rob victim, Harrisburg police say

Scalable and versatile vest with war belt. Part of the UK Armys VIRTUS soldier system, able to be worn as a concealed vest or as full body armor with a war belt.

Ballistic Vest Type: Either a concealed vest with soft armor plates or full body armor with hard and soft body armor plates.

MOLLE/Built-In Pouches?: MOLLE for pouches and assault equipment

Ballistic Panels?: Soft and/or Hard Panels

Compatible with War Belt?: Yes

Type of Closure: RAILS buckles and one-side shoulder closure.

Sizing Options?: Yes with RAILS buckles. Can adjust sizing options by the mm.

How Easy to Assemble?: Less than 30 seconds. Vest remains in one piece when released.

Female Vest Option?: No

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Is It Legal For Civilians To Own Body Armor

You may be surprised to learn that body armor is legal for almost anyone to possess or use in all 50 states within the U.S.. Oftentimes, consumers are under the impression that this type of protective gear is illegal to own unless theyre a first responder, law enforcement officer or involved in the military services but that is simply not true.

With the exception of the following restrictions, body armor is completely legal:

  • You must be a law-abiding civilian and intend to wear your armor for permitted uses.
  • You must not commit a crime while wearing armor. Such action will increase legal penalties significantly.
  • You must not have been convicted of a violent felony or intend to participate in criminal activities while wearing your armor.
  • You must purchase your armor face-to-face with a local dealer if you live in Connecticut or purchase your armor online and have it shipped to their location for pickup. This product cannot be shipped directly to a civilian in the aforementioned state.
  • The Need For Police Body Armour:

    It encourages the use of personal body armour by documenting the armours effectiveness to reduce mortality and disability.

    It recognizes individuals who have survived a life-threatening situation as a result of wearing personal body armour.

    It also serves the law enforcement community by gathering and disseminating critical information about these survivor incidents.

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    Restrictions Applied To Everyone

    A few states prohibit the use or possession in specified situations or circumstances, without regard to the criminal background of the wearer. One state prohibits wearing armor on school property or school-sponsored functions , while in Connecticut, sale of body armor must be done in personInternet and phone purchases are illegal.

    What Are The Different Nij Rating Protection Body Armor Levels

    Understanding Law Enforcement Police Body Armor NIJ Protection Levels

    NIJ Level II

    What will a level II plate stop?Level II armor will stop most common handgun rounds including 45 ACP, 9mm, .40 S& W and .357. The National Institute of Justice specifies that level II armor must stop 9mm fmj bullets with a mass of 124 grains and a velocity of 1,305 ft/s as well as .357 Magnum jsp with a mass of 158 grains and a velocity of 1,430 ft/s.

    NIJ Level IIIA

    What will a level IIIA plate stop?Level IIIA armor reliably defends against all common handgun rounds including .357, 9mm, 45 ACP, all the way up to .44 Magnum. Level IIIA protects the wearer from shotgun rounds including 00 buckshot, 12 ga. slugs and even submachine gun rounds. In conjunction with our level IV rifle plate, our armor protects against rifle threats all the way up to .30-06.

    Enhanced Multi-Threat Level IIIA+

    What will a level IIIA+ enhanced multi-threat plate stop?Level IIIA+ armor is an innovative protection category that is offered exclusively through Safe Life Defense. This enhanced soft armor not only protects against the same threats as our traditional IIIA but also includes NIJ Level 1 spike protection for up to 36 jules of stab force and protection against armor-piercing handgun ammunition such as Liberty Civil Defense 9mm and FN 5.7×28 40 gr. The unique bullet, strike, slash, stab, Taser and special threat resistance found in Safe Life Defense IIIA+ armor make it the worlds most powerful soft body armor!

    NIJ Level III

    FRAS® Standalone and ICW

    NIJ Level IV

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    New Standards For Ballistic Resistance Of Female Body Armor Are Forthcoming

    The National Institute of Justice is the main authority for establishing and updating performance standards for body armor, and work is currently underway to revise the Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor Standard 0101.06 to update ballistic threat categories and to ensure female-designated body armor provides adequate protection. The standard was originally approved in 2008, and the NIJ National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Centers Body Armor Compliance Testing Program released an Administration Clarification document in 2015 focusing on flexible ballistic-resistant body armor containing two panel designs typically used in body armor optimized for women. The updated standard is expected to be released later this year.

    CTP Criminal Justice Testing and Evaluation Consortium Operations Manager Alex Sundstrom attended the September focus group to discuss the revised standard, which will ultimately inform NUSTLs selection of body armor products for the SAVER operational assessmentonly products certified NIJ-compliant will be included in the assessment. He discussed NIJs laboratory performance testing processes and highlighted new test specifications that address body armor specifically designed for women. For instance, the revised standard will include additional specifications to account for potential weak points at armor seams and will increase the number of armor panel samples tested to provide adequate statistics for curved front panels.

    Developments In Ceramic Armor

    Ceramic materials, materials processing and progress in ceramic penetration mechanics are significant areas of academic and industrial activity. This combined field of ceramics armor research is broad and is perhaps summarized best by The American Ceramics Society. ACerS has run an annual armor conference for a number of years and compiled a proceedings 2004â2007. An area of special activity pertaining to vests is the emerging use of small ceramic components. Large torso sized ceramic plates are complex to manufacture and are subject to cracking in use. Monolithic plates also have limited multi hit capacity as a result of their large impact fracture zone These are the motivations for new types of armor plate. These new designs use two- and three-dimensional arrays of ceramic elements that can be rigid, flexible or semi-flexible. Dragon Skin body armor is one of these systems. European developments in spherical and hexagonal arrays have resulted in products that have some flex and multi hit performance. The manufacture of array type systems with flex, consistent ballistic performance at edges of ceramic elements is an active area of research. In addition advanced ceramic processing techniques arrays require adhesive assembly methods. One novel approach is use of hook and loop fasteners to assemble the ceramic arrays.

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    What Are The Laws For Shipping Bulletproof Vests Overseas

    Generally, it’s okay to ship soft armor overseas, but hard armor shipping is prohibited by the International Traffic in Arms Regulation .

    That’s why our body armor collection features soft armor vests and other body armor from some top international brands like Israel Catalog and Protection Group Denmark.

    What if you’re traveling abroad and want your armor shipped to you? Take a look at our article on shipping body armor internationally.

    What Is Police Body Armour

    Police: 1 killed when Florida teens take turns shooting at each other while wearing body armor

    One of the most prevalent pieces of safety equipment used by cops is body armour.

    A few hundred police officers are assaulted each year. A lot of peoples lives are saved by wearing body armour. Body armour also provides additional protection for police personnel in the event of car accidents or other types of assaults.

    The majority of police body armour and helmets are designed to protect officers from pistol threats. Although police helmets are not as popular as body armour, the criteria for helmets require that they stop comparable bullets. To defeat rifle shots, law enforcement obtains a limited supply of body armour with breast plates.

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    Rts Tactical Ceramic Level Iv

    RTS Tactical is a relative newcomer but theyve made a name for themselves with ultra-affordable ceramic level IV armor at ~$150 a plate.

    Scaryhaving affordable and level IV in the same sentence

    One thing thats different is that they are some thicc bois at 1.1 and 6.3 lbs.

    The weight is actually ok but youll need a more conventional carrier rather than something more minimalist since it likely wont be able to hold it.

    My Crye JPC 2.0 did not like it at all.

    But theres enough YouTube videos out there showing decent punishment. And I received a third party ballistic test result from them.

    We finally got the chance to test them in our Ceramic & UHMWPE series.

    An initial 7.62×39 shot landed dead center and the plate has very little cavitation.

    However, additional hits from M80 ball caused severe damage and effectively put the plate out of the running.

    Some .223 rounds after started deflecting and the final Black Tip rounds cut the plate in halfsomething we didnt see in other Level 4 plates.

    Unfortunately our sequence of rounds didnt lend the plate well to a direct Black Tip hit to start off withbut for the price it did really well against 7.62×39.

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