Do you wear your vest year round?

[CDFinch]

I most certainly do! I am from Birmingham, Alabama (we made the top ten per capita for homicides nationwide last year), and even though it gets dang near 100 degrees and 100% humidity in the summer, I do not take it off while I am on duty. I sweat my *** off, but try and keep cool by running the AC on max, drinking plenty of water & Powerade (Fruit Punch FTW!), and I have stock in Under Armour t-shirts.

But seriously, down here it is LEGAL for people to carry with a CCW and pretty much everyone and their grandmother has a gun. At the same time, every single wanna-be criminal carries a gun, albeit illegally, so pretty much every call and every traffic stop there are going to be at least 2 guns at the scene: mine and their's.

I've read too many reports and seen too many news stories about an officer getting shot in the chest area and either dying right there or having to be rushed to the ER. A vest could have prevented many of those deaths/ICU trips.

I'm not trading summertime comfort for my life. Plain and simple.

[deputy x 2]

Absolutely!! Its mandatory.

We don't get humid or really hot weather. Probably two weeks out of the year it gets 101-103.

I agree, I'd rather be uncomfortable than dead. :eek: :eek:
Not wearing your vest is like not bringing your gun to work...you never know when you'll need it!

[Flash]

Can some one actually list how many times a vest saved some ones life? The reason i ask, dont you have a greater chance to get shot in the legs/head.

Also if you get shot in the vest, doesnt it feel like a hammer that just hit your body? Anyway you would be knocked out..right?

Also isnt a vest heavy? and uncomfortable? I think its cool how officers look buff when wearing it seems like the yhave alot of muscle :eek: which makes me scared :eek:

[chat01]

Can some one actually list how many times a vest saved some ones life? The reason i ask, dont you have a greater chance to get shot in the legs/head.

Also if you get shot in the vest, doesnt it feel like a hammer that just hit your body? Anyway you would be knocked out..right?

Also isnt a vest heavy? and uncomfortable? I think its cool how officers look buff when wearing it seems like the yhave alot of muscle :eek: which makes me scared :eek:

This Isnt "Ask A Cop"

Unless your Po-Po you need to take your questions there...

These Are Private Forums for Law Enforcement. We Reserve the Right to Remove Non-LEO Members, Anti-LE or Inappropriate Posts and Users Without Warning.

[Flash]

This Isnt "Ask A Cop"

Unless your Po-Po you need to take your questions there...

These Are Private Forums for Law Enforcement. We Reserve the Right to Remove Non-LEO Members, Anti-LE or Inappropriate Posts and Users Without Warning.

What do you mean if im pop? Why private forum im normal human :eek:

[deputy x 2]

What do you mean if im pop? Why private forum im normal human :eek:

A mind is a terrible thing to waste!!

[Ken K]

I wear my vest even off duty...it keeps me from getting shocked by my car when I close the door.

[chat01]

What do you mean if im pop? Why private forum im normal human :eek:

Po-Po like in "Police... If your not a sworn officer (Po-Po)
You need not post in this section... Read the forum rules...

Myself and many other officer would be happy to answer any legit questions you have in the "Ask A Cop" section.... Just not in here.. ;)

[Flash]

Po-Po like in "Police... If your not a sworn officer (Po-Po)
You need not post in this section... Read the forum rules...

Myself and many other officer would be happy to answer any legit questions you have in the "Ask A Cop" section.... Just not in here.. ;)

Im cop..of USA

Also im foreigner from russiaz, also how you know if im cop or not :eek:

[chat01]

I am required to wear my vest on the road at all times...
However,,, I get the option to leave it off when I work marine patrol...

[deputy x 2]

Im cop..of USA

Also im foreigner from russiaz, also how you know if im cop or not :eek:

Because in America, WE can count..your birthdate of 1989 means you are 17 years old, idiot!

[Flash]

Because in America, WE can count..your birthdate of 1989 means you are 17 years old, idiot!

that hurts my heart man :( i take calculus with A+

[uscs344]

Reading yall's posts made me laugh. It just reminded me of some interviews I've conducted.

[deputy x 2]

It's called "Troll patrol"

Sorry I hijacked the thread..CD

[rmedon]

Although not required to, I have never worked a day without wearing my vest.

[OLDSPLE]

Until 1996 it was optional here. Now it is mandatory unless the weather reaches 96 and above. Then the ooption is left to the individual.

[rpd1794]

Every day, although it can get unbearable in late summer when the humidity is high. I just don't feel right without it on.

[sflcop]

Always, Every Day

[ftlaudcop]

also it makes skinny guys look like they work out.... :D

[RabbitMPD]

I am required to but I would wear it anyway. One thing that really gets to me though are the guys on the department that swear by their vest yet don't wear their seatbelt. :confused: Don't forget to buckle up too!

[raleigh03]

It Gets Hot As Hell Down Here In North Carolina And There Is Not A Day That Goes By I Don't Have My Vest On. My Wife Would Shoot Me Herself If I Didn't Wear It.

I Can Live With All The Sweat. There Is Acc In My Patrol Car.

If The Uniform Is On, So Is The Vest!

Stay Safe

[kirch]

Abso-posi-f***ing-lutely. If the uniform is on, the vest is on underneath it.

I've thought about leaving it behind when I go to court, but then I think, "And this'll be the day some crazed lunatic decides to shoot up the judge's chambers." On goes the vest.

[KenW.]

In uniform I always wear it. In plain-clothes twice a week, no. I do keep my last vest in the trunk though, and have pulled it out a couple of times prior to arrival on something.

Always on the qualification range: I've seen too many cops do stupid things with their guns.

[kirch]

Always on the qualification range: I've seen too many cops do stupid things with their guns.
Ditto that.

[Rattel]

When I book on I always put on my vest with plates, although there are many officers who work withought it.

Better safe than sorry

[KenW.]

Speaking of plates; I used to work in a metal shop. There I cut 0.063" mild stainless steel to fit in the trauma pockets beneath the soft plates. Thought it would be more stab resistant.

[kirch]

Speaking of plates; I used to work in a metal shop. There I cut 0.063" mild stainless steel to fit in the trauma pockets beneath the soft plates. Thought it would be more stab resistant.
That just reminded me of something. A friend of mine works as a metalworking instructor at a technical college. One day I found a metal disk about 8" across on his passenger seat. He told me it was 1/4" titanium. He asked me if I wanted it, but I couldn't think of any possible use I could put it to. Now that I think of it, that thing would have fit almost perfectly in my vest's trauma plate pocket.

Oh well, the world is full of lost opportunities.

[KenW.]

Use caution!

If you insert something that may lead to spalling, that material will go into your FACE. Be sure to place it under a soft trama pack, if you dare use one at all. 0.25" Titanium may not be a wise choice. I would consider a catalog or magazine over that.

I chose thin mild stainless because it won't do much to a bullet, But I'll be damned if anyone could push a knife through it.

[sert115]

always on SWAT, almost never on patrol, yeah yeah, I know I'm taking a chance but it's mine to take. PS if our cheap ***** department would get us decent vests I would.

[t150vsuptpr]

Yes, always if in uniform working the road and at every firearms training session. Once it becomes a habit, you feel naked without and it simply is more comfortable with it on ...
... even if hot ...
... rather than to constantly have that feeling you are only half dressed. ;)

Sometimes, if really hot and I'm going out on an accident reconstruction call in utilities, I will take it along in the trunk and put it on for the remainder of the shift when I am no longer working at the wreck scene or in a junk yard or storage lot.

:)

[mouth]

Its not in our policy that we have to wear our vest all the time but our chief has told us that we will wear them lol. The only time its optional is if we are court securtiy, or in court cloths. I wear it all the time unless I am working out then If I get a call I throw on my tac vest, not matter what discomofort out ways death.

[2209]

Always. I'm in SC and it gets hot. But it is like life insurance. You hope you never need it, but when you do, you are glad you have it!

Stay safe.

[Prangler]

If I am working, I am wearing a vest. 90 Degrees or 15 below, I always wear a vest when I am working.

[mpd-r]

Of course I wear mine, it's the only thing that I can do to look like i'm still thin and in shape. :D

Yes, I wear mine all year round. Throw on some Gold Bond before the vest, and get out there. And the minute signal c's called, off with the vest.

I have been known not to wear it on occasion, but I always ask myself why I'm such an idiot when I do. I didn't wear it when I went along for a shift with aviation,and I didn't wear it when working on the boat with harbor patrol, I've gone to court without it, and i've gone for admin assignments in uniform without. And every time, I didn't need it, but I know i'm playing with fire.

I concur with 2209, it is life insurance. I should always wear it, you should always wear it, whether or not we do is a day to day decision, but one day you might need it. Do you want that day to be the day you don't?

Stay Safe out there, for all of us.

[Retired96]

On nov. 9, 1974, my father in law gave me the money to buy a vest as I didn't have the money to buy one myself. Vest were new to law enforcement then. That night I was involved in a officer involved fatal shooting. I spent 15 years on the streets and never once went out on patrol without my vest on.

[biggreen]

Always! Wore it chasing illegals through the mountains in San Diego and in extreme heat while on detail to El Centro, CA and Douglas, AZ. We've had agents survive accidents, because they were wearing their vest. Got too much to live for. "Better to be safe than dead!"

[DropNotch]

I'm also from Alabama, and although it's not manditory that we wear our department issued vest, I wouldn't leave home without it.

It's tough during the warmer times of the year as I have weird skin that gets heat rash in mild weather. But regardless of the pain/discomfort from that i still wouldn't be caught without the vest.

That and Under armor is a god sent. as well as clinique (yes the womens makeup maker) body spray (for $20 a bottle) is the best thing i've found to help relieve and prevent heat rash. So if you have that problem you might want to try it out, comes in a spray bottle haha.

[kec0331usmc]

we are required to wear ours, so i do. anyone found a good way to keep them from bunching up? mine makes me look like i have a spare tire!

[rookie2812]

always on SWAT, almost never on patrol, yeah yeah, I know I'm taking a chance but it's mine to take. PS if our cheap ***** department would get us decent vests I would.

I'm gonna have to call you out on this one, brother. Yes it's your life, and if shot, you are the one who is going to possibly die. But your poor choice to choose comfort over safety is going to lead to the heartbreak of the people who care about you. Your wife or girlfriend (hopefully not both), children, parents, and all of your brothers and sisters in blue. Think of the heartache you would cause by your poor choice if something terrible happened that you could have prevented. Just something to think about...Be safe.

[VAFUZZ]

Our department does not require us to wear tham but i figure ill take every advantage I can. i will tell you it does make body blows not hurt to bad when in a realy good fight, but for some reason a puch to the eye still hurts no matter what.( trust me he came out the worst off his jaw was broke in three places) its the best fealing when a toad is trying to say no contest with his jaw wired shut.

[jwise]

It isn't required, and there are a couple officers who don't, but I always do. Even to court. Like the other said, I'll think about not wearing it to court, then get this sinking feeling that TODAY would be the ONE day the courthouse would get shot up. So I wear it.

The only time I haven't worn it, was just yesterday. I drew the unlucky "desk Officer" duty, and dumped my belt and vest in a gear bag for the duration, just wearing my pistol on a belt holster. It was the weirdest feeling in the whole world to be wearing my uniform shirt without my vest.

Before I returned to the street, my vest was back where it belonged.

[docgreed]

I wear my vest religiously. I was taught by a sergeant I respect highly. If you're on the scene, there is always a gun. If there is a gun there, I will have a vest on. I give another Sergeant alot of crap for not wearing one. I check all my other patrolmen when I come in to work. A good pat on the back will tell me which officer's I will need to watch for if the crap hits the fan.

[Trooper4985]

I don't even goto V&T court without a vest. As far as I'm concerned... the vest is part of the uniform. No saying it's going to stop everything that hits it but your odds of going home are better if you're wearing it. About the guys who say "It's hot down here" It's quite a bit warmer in the middle east right now than it ever gets in the US... you don't see those guys walking around without a vest on.

[t150vsuptpr]

If I had just read the thread first, even just reviewed it, I would've seen I already answered it, and I can't delete .... :cool:

.... so ? :rolleyes:



:D

[Shotwell]

100 percent of the time. I consider myself a target to anyone when I have that uniform on. Im not hardcore though you wont see me at the cineplex with my lady wearing it.....but I will walk a lil extra heavy at all times-

[Rohan]

As far as I'm concerned... the vest is part of the uniform.
My sheriff has made it part of the uniform. Get caught without it at roll call and you get thrashed by the duty sgt. then you get to visit the sheriff when he gets the request for reprimand from the sgt. It sucks but yo get used to it. I'll have to try the gold bond thing.

[Shotwell]

Before I got hired if you got caught without it you got time off so Im told....that has faded I guess. Now that I think about it a saying that applies to motorcycle riding leathers fits in here too.....Id rather sweat than bleed.

[slpope]

Is the pic in your post the newest member of your emergency response team's sniper? If so, I don't see it wearing an ear mic or shoulder mic!!

[bluesteele]

I am the only one on my department that wears a vest. My chief does not believe in them and does not support the purchase of them. I got mine when I first started out with another department. I need the upgrade but he said I will have to pay for it out of pocket. There goes another paycheck! :mad:

[TPRX899]

I have not ever put on my uniform and not put on my vest. It gets to be 100 degrees here and high humidity. Our department has us in 100% wool and I still wear my vest. I feel it is the responsible thing to do. For myself, my family, friends and my fellow officers in blue!

[kirch]

I am the only one on my department that wears a vest. My chief does not believe in them and does not support the purchase of them. I got mine when I first started out with another department. I need the upgrade but he said I will have to pay for it out of pocket. There goes another paycheck! :mad:
I can't believe that, in modern law enforcement, there are still those that think this way. It's one thing to make a personal decision not to wear a vest -- though I personally disagree with it, the only life you're affecting is your own. But to put roadblocks in the way of other officers acquiring vests, that borders on the criminal to me.

With the amount of grant money that's out there for vest purchases, there's no way someone can convince me that a department can't afford to put vests on its officers.

As a PT officer, my first department did not purchase a vest for me. However, they provided me with a used vest on permament loan. The only stipulation was that I return it if I left the department. Even though I eventually bought my own vest (through a 50% grant provided by the other department I work PT for), I still have that original vest as a backup.

[1042 Trooper]

I just wore mine in the months where a bullet coulde tear through my flesh.

[P.I.Davis]

Heat sucks. But holes suck even more. Never work without your vest.

[kirch]

There was an article on the O.com home page just a few days ago. It was about a rookie officer (just months out of the academy) and his partner who were both shot by the driver of a vehicle they'd pulled over. The rooke took 1 or 2 rounds to the chest. His partner was shot too. The rookie survived with bruises. The partner (who was farther away from the shooter) is paralyzed from the neck down. I don't think it gets much clearer-cut than that.

[Darcimus]

Every day without exception.

[Patrol 125]

Our policy does not require officer's to wear their vest, however you will NEVER EVER see me in uniform without it on! I've heard all the horror stories and seen in many cases even wearing one the lucky bastards got one of us.

I agree with all the other posts in here. It gets very hot and humid in Virginia. I sweat my ***** off in the summer. I still wear it religiously. :D

We have officers on my department that will not wear them. One day I will say "It was nice knowing you". :(

[Machinegunner]

Vests suck but death sucks more. I have found that under armor shirts are more comfortable under the vest than a regular T-shirt. Beside the vest can hide the spare tire around the belt line.

[ud22206]

every day!!

[hawk1]

The day you don't wear it is the day it rains lead. I wear mine all the time. Working in the area that I do, it is our SOP's to wear the ceramic plate vests when responding. Hot and damn heavy after a while, but worth it.

[kirch]

Every time you think your vest is too hot and uncomfortable, count your lucky stars. You could be wearing this when it's 120* in downtown Baghdad:
http://www.house.gov/sensenbrenner/soccer.iraq1.jpg

[TPRX899]

Only on days that someone is going to shoot at me.

I wear mine anytime I am in uniform. Even if it is 103 with 100% humidity. And we wear 100% wool uniforms.

[Swiss LEO]

The department I work for equips every officer with a vest. But it's not mandatory to wear it. There are special occasions when it's ordered to wear them.
For my safety I wear my vest all year long, when I work in uniform, because you never know what's going to happen.

Kind regards from Switzerland

[firedog974]

I got dispatched the other day to a buglar alarm at a residence WAY out in the sticks. I arrived and at the front of the driveway was a keypad entry gate (closed and locked of course!). I scaled the fence and ended up walking over 1.5 miles (the length of the driveway) to the house. There was absolutely no way to make a tacticle approach to this place, and the house had floor to celing windows in every room. It turned out to be a false alarm, but what if it hadn't? I work in Florida and it is the middle of July....I hated that vest so much while making that walk to and from that house.... But what if there was someone inside just waiting for a LEO to show up so they could cap him??? My closest backup was at least 15 minutes away.... what chance of survival would I have had taking a gunshot to the chest out there in the middle of nowhere without a vest??? I wear mine all day everyday I have my uniform on... even when working off duty gigs. I hate the heat and how uncomfortable they make me, but the alternative seems a bit more uncomfortable.

[0u812]

Wear a vest EVERYDAY!

[BigRich]

We haven't had a day where the temperature was less than 105 (most days it's closer to 110) along with at least 80% humidity since late May. We're also in the middle of a long drought. I'm also a very large man (6'2", 280 pounds. NO, I'm NOT a fatbody. I'm a powerlifter, and an underweight one at that.). I also wear my vest. Every. Single. Day. Does it get uncomfortable? Yes. Do I hate the vest? Yes. Would I rather be dead because the ONE time I don't wear my vest I end up getting shot? No. I actually own 2 vests. One is department issued, the other was bought by me. Kind of like with footwear, switching them out each day helps out.


BR

[rodtulett]

Try wearing one in a boat all day! The ones we have are just as heavy or heavier than most and it takes an extra 30 lbs of flotation to overcome the extra weight. But it's worthwhile for that one time you are challenging someone who may want to do something more than hurl insults!

[SPOC911]

You may be uncomfortable wearing a vest but think how uncomfortable your loved ones will be if you don't wear it and are shot. ;)

[Blackdog F4i]

I wear it every day. This year they finally made it mandatory even working off-duty in uniform. I think it ****ed off some of the office personell, but better ****ed off than dead. No telling when some jackass will get the bright idea to try to shoot up the station.

I swore to my wife when I started. Anytime I wear the uniform the vest will be under it. When I save a little extra cash I am going to get a raid jacket to keep in the car. With the locals starting to use AK's and SKS's I would like a little more protection available.

[waltitia]

Yep. Always. Front and back panels.

[Raptor5191]

Never put on the uniform without the vest. It is part of the uniform.

I even wore it when working plainclothes.

[swampcop]

Would I go to work without my Glock? No, so I wouldnt go without my vest. I purchased a Cool Cop. I think it was around $70.00. In Louisiana I need it. It makes the days tolerable and the nights nice.

[jefsmith77]

I always wear mine too. My PD allows us to wear external covers. This seems to be a pretty common thing with Chicagoland departments. After being this spoiled I will never wear a vest underneath again!! :D

[Rapax]

Do I wear the vest year round? Uh..yeah! I can get shot year round! :D And if you don't wear a vest, well you are an idiot. I don't care what you say, you have no argument other than that you are a selfish idiot that does not care about your family and coworkers. :cool:

[Blackdog F4i]

I look at it the same was as I do guys who ride bikes with no helmet or drive cars without seatbelts. It's just darwin at work. ;)

[banastretarlton]

I most certainly do! I am from Birmingham, Alabama (we made the top ten per capita for homicides nationwide last year), and even though it gets dang near 100 degrees and 100% humidity in the summer, I do not take it off while I am on duty. I sweat my *** off, but try and keep cool by running the AC on max, drinking plenty of water & Powerade (Fruit Punch FTW!), and I have stock in Under Armour t-shirts.

But seriously, down here it is LEGAL for people to carry with a CCW and pretty much everyone and their grandmother has a gun. At the same time, every single wanna-be criminal carries a gun, albeit illegally, so pretty much every call and every traffic stop there are going to be at least 2 guns at the scene: mine and their's.

I've read too many reports and seen too many news stories about an officer getting shot in the chest area and either dying right there or having to be rushed to the ER. A vest could have prevented many of those deaths/ICU trips.

I'm not trading summertime comfort for my life. Plain and simple.

I prefer sweating to bleeding.

[PPDSWD]

It goes on before I leave the house for work and comes off when I get home.

[Slattery]

Here in Australia I wear the Tote Systems Level IIIA vest provided by the department. I think it is a few years old technology wise, and it gets damn hot in the spring/summer!!!!

[DEPUTYIM]

My wife would kill me if I did not wear it. It is heavy, bulky and hot in the summer and very uncomfortable (level III) but the one day I will need it will be worth all the problems. I need a new one mine is almost at the 5 year mark. :D

[theheights109]

i worked (key word is WORKED) for a department where of the 7 officers, i was the ONLY one who wore a vest. i have no clue how a police officer can come to the conclusion that comfort is more important than safety. i don't give a fat frogs ***** if you have done this job for 25+ years and feel that you don't need a vest just because nothing has happened to you so far. if it's my scene, i want everyone there wearing a vest. as a relatively new supervisor, i think i'd have a temper tantrum if i saw one of my officers not wearing a vest.

please, be smart and be careful.

[detsarg]

When I was in patrol I would never have even thought of going to work without my vest. In Florida it gets DAMN hot and humid but I tend to believe that a bullet entering my body at a high rate of speed would be a lot less comfortable than a vest.

Plus, my wife would have had a fit.

[Northtechsan]

Wear it every day without exception when in uniform. Even in the hot summer months when we had temps around 105+.

[SRT936]

I wear my vest every time I put the uniform on. If you want to know why, just read my other thread about vest saves.

Remember, its not just bullets that the vest protects you from. They even provide some help in a wreck or as in my case, shrapnel.

[DOAcop38]

that hurts my heart man :( i take calculus with A+


Y'know, its NEVER too late to REBUILD THAT DAMNED WALL and send you back to cabbage,bad roads, and dreary days of party politiks........... :rolleyes: Calculus or not-We've got ENOUGH "future" taxi drviers already..........

[11b101abn]

Wearing my armor is like a religon to me.Those who do not are non- believers and heretics, deserving of no respect or pity.

Harsh? Maybe, but it may be me having to come police up your non- body armor wearing lazy dead *** at great risk to me and my partners.

Wear your FU**ING armor! How smart do have to be?

[K911]

how bad would it suck to be laying on the pavement, next to where the car had been that you just stopped, gasping for your last breath, trying to figure out why is this happening, choking on your own blood, smelling the pungent odor of burnt gunpowder in the air, then remembering your vest is laying in the passenger seat or in the trunk. are you kidding?????????

with the number of officer assaults on the rise, the state of affairs in our world today and advances in materials resulting in light weight, pseudo comfortable vests, what fool would strap on a gun and a badge without first donning a vest?

and as far as being your choice because it's your safety at issue? how selfish can you be? isn't there someone, somewhere hoping you make it home?!!? besides now i am the one who will have to come in a rescue your dying *****!

don't wait for a department mandate. this is one thing you can control that stacks the odds in your favor that you might just get home at the end of your tour of duty. i have worn a vest in south florida everyday for nearly 20 years. and i'll continue to wear one for the next 20!

[EDWARD96]

Our policy does not require officer's to wear their vest, and there are some officers that don't. I would like to ask a question and feel free to comment about it. If I respond to a shooting call and you are my backup, not wearing a vest. And at that call you are shot, and I now have to risk my life to save yours (and I would) is your decision not to wear you vest still just your personal decision? Wear your vest your partners life might depend on it. ;)

Also, we had an officer that hated wearing his so when he would come to work without it we called his wife. She and the kids would bring it to the PD and make him put it on. We would all fall in the floor laughing because she fussed at him the whole time he was putting it on. :)

[CatchemDirty]

Ask yourself two questions.

1. How much do you value your life?
2. How much does your family/friends love you?

If you can't answer either of these questions call in sick or get off the street cause funerals really suck.

Easy equation:

On street + In Uniform = TARGET

Simple solution WEAR THE VEST

[eeyore]

Mamma says that if I'm gonna play cops and robbers, I have to play with all the toys. Nuff Said?

[HolyRoller]

Lord yes. All, thee, time. We don't have to, but I do. And I have a plate carrier with Level IVs in the trunk.

We have a 4/10 mile dirt track that requires 4 deputies on race nights. When I was there, it was the hottest day and night of the year but I had my vest on. The other deputies thought I was nuts. But I figure you never know what day you're going to get shot at. Plus, at a race, you have about a thousand rednecks, two-thirds of them drunk, and no metal detectors. You think nobody there has the tools or the motivation to blast you?

[Slattery]

The last two days here in Melbourne Australia it has been 40 degrees celsius and I just couldn't psych myself up to put the vest on.
Luckily nothing happened.....

[K911]

yeah luckily, but i guess that cold, steel table in the morgue would cool you off...

[School Cop]

Whenever the forecast calls for a chance of gunplay.

Every time I suit up.

[Memtndude]

I always wear mine. Heat and such doesn't bother me. I wore an Interceptor in Iraq, I think I can handle a Matrix in Memphis.

[nebraskacop]

Same here, I made it 13 months in Iraq so the heat is not an issue for me. I rather be hot, then DEAD! I wear my vest to court and on duty because you never know what's going to happen next. Stay safe!!

[K911]

remember, if you're in uniform, there is at least one gun at every scene...

[nrneuha]

I most certainly do! I am from Birmingham, Alabama (we made the top ten per capita for homicides nationwide last year), and even though it gets dang near 100 degrees and 100% humidity in the summer, I do not take it off while I am on duty. I sweat my *** off, but try and keep cool by running the AC on max, drinking plenty of water & Powerade (Fruit Punch FTW!), and I have stock in Under Armour t-shirts.

But seriously, down here it is LEGAL for people to carry with a CCW and pretty much everyone and their grandmother has a gun. At the same time, every single wanna-be criminal carries a gun, albeit illegally, so pretty much every call and every traffic stop there are going to be at least 2 guns at the scene: mine and their's.

I've read too many reports and seen too many news stories about an officer getting shot in the chest area and either dying right there or having to be rushed to the ER. A vest could have prevented many of those deaths/ICU trips.

I'm not trading summertime comfort for my life. Plain and simple.

You'd have to be a damn fool not to.

[AggiePhil]

remember, if you're in uniform, there is at least one gun at every scene...
Needs to be that way when not in uniform too.

[Agent00Latin]

Im not downgrading anyone here by any means, but if someone complains about the heat, they should remember(someone alluded to this already) that in Iraq the avg temps hover around 105+ and the IBAs are NOT only soft kevlar pads but include multple SAPI plates, plus all the gear you attach, kevlar helmets, weapon, and ammo. All of that pushes the 70lb mark, and we wear all of that EVERY time we go outside the wire, and mind you that patrols average 12 hrs , every single day for almost theentire year deployed. So anyway my point is not to make someone feel guilty, but rather understand that the human body can take a lot of stress and discomfort and WILL get used to it. Ive never been a cop, but Id be interested to hear other opinions by those whove worn the IBA and also worn the standard tac vests.

[bigpoppaproppy]

yep, always. Have never worked a shift without it.

even when I'm working security detail @ the HS or on a side-job, you never know. If you wear it all the time, and never need it, you haven't lost anything. however all it takes is one time not wearing it...


besides, also adds some protection during crashes, fights, etc

[ofc_x]

http://forums.officer.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1334
.223 round! Made a believer out of me. Just wish I could take it when on regular patrol.

[quebec zulu]

We have only started being issued body armour for the past 3 years (the muppets in charge still think bad guys dont carry guns outside london, average 5 casualties a year says different!!!) we use to have to share i know that sounds bad but you havent lived unless you have worn a sweaty vest thats just been worn by the smelly bloke on the shift!!

Anyway the new stuff is made by 'second chance' very light, worn in an overt carrier after being very pleased with it although very hot in summer I have read its got bad press over in the US with your goverment dept binning it, by the way have no pockets for plates but hey who needs plates I'm only a k9 handler who goes 'point' at armed robbery tracks.

Good luck be safe

[Omega17632]

being that i'm new to the police world...I was wearing my vest with just a regular cotton shirt for an under shirt, and I felt like I was moving like frankenstein. I have since made the switch to Under Armour, and it is a night and day difference, I can breathe, move, and stay so much cooler.

Also, I even wore my vest in the academy, i'm never taking mine off when in uniform!

[gopherpuckfan]

I wear my vest everytime I'm in uniform. It was my choice since Day #1, but it helps that my department requires it since they purchased the more expensive one on my behalf.

[GCPD0171]

If the uniform goes on the vest goes on. The only exception is when I am in my honor guard uniform at a ceremony.

[JKump]

As with everyone else, if in uniform the vest is on. The vest is just part of the uniform. When in plain clothes on a K9 call I have a TAC vest that goes over my outer clothes. It is nice and labelled POLICE and K9.

[NorwichGrad05]

Why is this even a debate..you wear blue..you wear a vest..modern technology has given us another tool to stay alive with and people think that you shouldn't wear it when it gets hot? I always thought a good cop never gets hungry or wet. Maybe I'm biased because its a requirement in my department..but I just see it as you go out of your "green" zone...its war. You're a cop..no one likes you..and that's the way it is.

[slama683]

The last two days here in Melbourne Australia it has been 40 degrees celsius and I just couldn't psych myself up to put the vest on.
Luckily nothing happened.....

How much is that in English?

Bullets have no friends.

[dave263k9]

every day for the past 20 years. if im in the uniform ive got my weapon and im wearing my vest. ill take all the help i can get.

[national]

forgot about the rule

[CGIS1]

if I am working, then absolutly every day without question. Back when I was in the regular coast guard before I joined CGIS we would wear our vest even on the hottest days out on the boats, and sometimes you would be sweating your *** off, but better to be sweating and alive then cold and dead!!

[luv2Bblu]

i thought it was a crime to mandate us wearing the vest during the summertime in the south...that is until i was on the SWAT team on the perimeter for 5 hours wearing full tac gear, nomex hood/gloves, and a gas mask...IN AUGUST! i was never deployed to iraq but now i have an idea of what they go thru wearing MOPP level 4...

i always wear my vest, even on my extra jobs...'cause ya never know!

[KuyCop]

Hi from Finland. Since I become a police officer, 1978, no f*****g day without the vest when I´m in uniform. Safer to puplic, to my colleaques and to my self. Obviously.

[Ermantroudt]

If I think I do not need my vest, I might as well leave my gun at home too...because I do not think I will need either of them...being a cop is dangerous enough, stack the odds in you favor...the vest is part of the uniform.

Erm

[armyfi]

I wear mine everytime that I put the uniform on. Even when I am in Civies I still wear it or have it readly acessable

[pyxie]

well it saved my partner he was shot in the back and myself im my left arm! I have no doubt in my mind id wear it all the time we get 100% humidity plus 93 average degrees here. Theres nothing like being shot on duty. I was shot with a 20 gauge slug it hit me so hard it threw me back and flipped me an i was so glad i was wearing that vest even though i didnt get shot in the chest. Just being that close to death made me think twice about what being comfortable is worth.