NCJ Number
172036
Journal
Law Enforcement Trainer Volume: 12 Issue: 6 Dated: (November/December 1997) Pages: 34-36
Date Published
1997
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article examines the types of weapons that have most often been used to kill police officers and draws implications for the kind of body armor officers should wear.
Abstract
Officers are killed overwhelmingly by low- and medium-power firearms. Soft body armor provides an effective defense against those weapons. The use of concealable body armor threat IIIA will not defeat center-fire rifle threats, however. Many tactical teams are using level IIA/II tactical vests with optional plates in an effort to protect officers while supplying them with lightweight armor in which they can maneuver. There is a growing need for lightweight (hard) armor that can defeat 7.26x39, .223, and .308 bullets. Although blunt trauma is apparently a non-issue with low- and medium-velocity firearm projectiles on soft body armor, there is evidence that the hydrostatic shock involved with high-velocity (center-fire) projectiles is a survival issue, even if soft body armor could stop high-velocity projectiles. Body armor technologies are progressing at a fast pace toward thinner, lighter, and more comfortable protection. The manufacture of a small, thin, insertable (hard) plate for concealed and tactical body armor will provide a higher level of protection and assist in quelling officer fear of assault weapons.