Kevlar?

[ChrisStewart]

Do police officers normally wear kevlar under their uniform at all times? How far does the vest go? Does it protect your entire torso or just go to the ribs?

http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
-Chris

[Fritz1363]

Chris,
If I am in uniform or doing anything else police-related I am wearing my Point Blank body armor. It isn't department policy to wear it http://www.officer.com/ubb/confused.gif but you won't ever catch me without it. My vest is a full-wrap design so protection is from my collarbone to my navel, and on the sides too. I believe it is Level II.

Fritz

[ChrisStewart]

Originally posted by Fritz1363:
Chris,
If I am in uniform or doing anything else police-related I am wearing my Point Blank body armor. It isn't department policy to wear it http://www.officer.com/ubb/confused.gif but you won't ever catch me without it. My vest is a full-wrap design so protection is from my collarbone to my navel, and on the sides too. I believe it is Level II.

Fritz


Yeah, if I was on duty I would always wear one too.

http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
-Chris

[cajuncop]

I have a Safariland Level II vest that wraps around the sides as well. The vest comes down to my navel with about two finger lengths to spare.

It's kinda bulky, but you get used to it after wearing it awhile.

I always wear mine if I'm working the streets. I occasionally wear it working extra duty details, depending on where I'm working. I hardly ever wear it when I'm in court.

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Without the support of our fellow officers, sometimes we have no support at all.

[FLLawdog]

Safariland Zero G...full coverage and flexible(until you add the trauma plate). Still haven't got the straps adjusted just right, though.

In uniform...in kevlar.

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FLLawdog
"Never try to teach a pig to sing...it wastes your time and it annoys the pig."

[Red5]

Nothing can beat the extra 5-10 lbs or $500 to $800 dollars, when we are talking about having a second chance at life. When I worked retail security and private security even I wore my Safariland Level II. Now that I got into the acadmey I won't be wearing one at least until I hit the streets again.

Scott
P.S. always go for a "soft-style" trauma plate, hard style have been know to have richochet potential.

[Sig220Man]

Originally posted by ChrisStewart:
Do police officers normally wear kevlar under their uniform at all times?

Although there have been numerous examples of police officers who were saved by the vest, sadly there are many who still do not.

Some such officers are veterans who began their careers before vests became commonplace. Their view is, if they made it this long without one, then chances are pretty good they'll make it all the way to retirement.

Others refuse to wear the vest because they feel uncomfortable in them (particularly in hot weather), or because it makes them look fat.

Most distressing of all are those officers who WANT to wear a vest, but whose departments DON'T issue one and whose salaries make it difficult or impossible to afford one on their own.

[unhappycop]

I've worn one for several years, a level IIa NIJ rated vest worn UNDER the shirt. I originally purchased the velcro type carrier but in Sydney, Australia it is too hot to wear a t-shirt, a vest AND your uniform, so I purchased a few custom tailored carriers (from a fabric called "coolmax") which don't sweat as much.

This vest covers from the top of the breastbone to about 2" above the appointments belt. Any lower and the vest bunches when you sit and distorts it, so it doesn't sit properly. It also wraps around the entire torso, covering the ribs under the arms and the entire back.

Our PD issues vests, but they're made by the same company who makes them for the army, and they seem to be designed for MAXIMUM DISCOMFORT, so a lot of officers buy their own. That said, vests are not THAT common place in NSW, but getting more so...

We also have two military spec ceramic plated vests issued to every patrol car. The only problem is they weigh too much to wear for more than a few minutes... http://www.officer.com/ubb/frown.gif These are big and bulky covering every area and include a pull out groin (femoral artery) protector.

The main thing is that when you buy a vest, make sure you get it professionally fitted for a proper fit. Dont buy "off the rack".


[This message has been edited by unhappycop (edited 03-16-2001).]

[Don]

Originally posted by unhappycop:
http://www.officer.com/ubb/frown.gif[/img] These are big and bulky covering every area and include a pull out groin (femoral artery) protector.



One S.O. that I worked for also issued these to the radio cars. When you saw guys showing up at a scene wearing these you just KNEW the excrement was going to be hitting the oscillator!

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Why do they call it "Tourist Season" if you can't shoot them?
6P1 (retired)