Bulletproof Vests in Law Enforcement

Due to the level of violence directed towards law enforcement, many police officers find it necessary to wear bullet-resistant vests during their on-duty hours. While no body armor provides 100-percent protection from ballistic injuries, it remains one of the best methods for officers to guard themselves against gunfire. Police supply stores provide several types of armor with varying degrees of comfort and protection for different tactical situations.

Levels of Protection

• Plain clothes police officers often wear concealable body armor.

  Bullet-resistant vest manufacturers offer several levels of protection to law enforcement personnel. These levels conform to standards established by the National Institute for Justice in the United States. The NIJ classifies five types of body armor by its ability to protect against ballistic impact. Vests rated as II, IIA, and IIIA are designed to defend against pistol calibers, with IIA and IIIA offering protection against rounds with higher momentum. Types III and IV offer resistance to rounds fired from some rifle calibers.

Materials

• Manufacturers use a variety of materials to construct bullet proof vests. Most lighter weight vests consist of strong fibers woven together or laminated. For heavier armor, steel or ceramic plates are used in conjunction with lighter materials to maximize protection without hindering mobility. These materials can either deflect the incoming bullet or keep it from penetrating through to vital organs. Officers must be fitted properly for their vests to ensure safety and comfort during long shifts.

Selecting the Right Protection

• Police use additional body armor when dealing with crowds or confronting dangerous suspects.

  Many plain clothes law enforcement officers choose to wear concealable bullet-resistant vests as part of their daily attire. Currently, these types of vests only offer up to Type IIIA protection, so the officer may still be vulnerable to rifle fire. Other officers choose to wear external vests that can be removed while in the station or in other safe areas. Special weapons and tactics officers generally use stronger vests as well as ballistic helmets and other armor to protect them during dangerous operations.

Other Considerations

• No vest can be considered completely bulletproof. Multiple impacts, poor manufacturing, specialized ammunition or plain bad luck can lead to injury or death while wearing body armor. Vests may only offer limited protection from assailants armed with stabbing or slashing weapons, and the officers head, neck and limbs will still be vulnerable to injury. Nevertheless, bullet resistant vests are credited with saving the lives of many law enforcement officers since police departments began issuing them.