TODAY’S POLICE BODY ARMOR

As domestic threats continue to increase, so does the need for better protection for law enforcement officers (LEOS). While many advances have been made since the first bullet-resistant vests were developed, it should be noted that the vests worn by most patrol officers or regular duty officers do not stop every type of bullet, nor is any vest entirely bulletproof.To get more news about bulletproof zone customer service, you can visit bulletproofboxs.com official website.

WHAT IS BODY ARMOR?
Bullet-resistant vests, also know as ballistic vests or body armor, (body armor can also be used to describe helmets, leg and arm protection) are the reason many people are alive today. According to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) in a 2013 report:
There are two basic categories for body armor: hard and soft. Soft (such as that made from DuPont™ Kevlar® fiber) is worn by most officers and stops most handgun bullets. Hard body armor provides protection from faster-moving ammo such as rifle rounds.

Today, most regular duty officers wear vests that consist of a carrier (the fabric part) with pockets that contain bullet-resistant, removable panels. Threat Level IIIA vests typically weigh between 5-6 pounds.

THE EVOLUTION OF BODY ARMOR
Early vests date back to the 1500s in Italy. They were very heavy and made from several layers of metal. The Japanese improved on this design in the 1800s by making fairly effective vests out of silk. Then came WWII’s bulky, heavy, flak jacket. Ballistic protection technology made a huge leap forward in the 1960’s-70’s with the introduction of Kevlar® by DuPont. Kevlar® was a game changer because it was deemed truly bullet resistant.

Today’s Kevlar®XP technology for soft body armor features a patented technology that allows vests to weigh at least 10% less than those made with other commercially available technologies while still containing Kevlar®.

TYPES OF PROTECTION FOR DIFFERENT LAW ENFORCEMENT ROLES
Because they face different kinds of threats, LEOs are issued vests that fit their roles.

For the most part, police officers on patrol wear ballistic-resistant protection, while correctional officers (who might work in a state prison) wear stab-resistant armor for protection against broken glass, needles, and knives. Since patrol officers favor the ballistic protection, they are still vulnerable to what is known as ‘spike threats” (being stabbed with objects like those mentioned above. While ‘combination’ vests exists, most LEOs wear one type of vest or the other.

And while most vests don’t yet offer protection from CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear) threats, such technologies are being researched for future upgrades.