If you’ve watched a police or military movie, or if you’re a member of law enforcement, you may have seen officers wearing bulletproof vests. These life-saving pieces of clothing serve many functions.
A research and development ballistic engineer who manufactures vests for law enforcement agencies across the country said the primary function of body armor is to stop bullets.
Protection from Rifle Rounds
Unlike traditional hard body armor made of steel plates, the latest soft vests are woven out of interlacing strands of Kevlar aramid. Like a net, the layers of this challenging material will catch and deform a rifle bullet as it comes towards you to disperse the projectile’s energy, minimizing blunt force trauma at the impact point.
A standard soft body armor vest with threat level II will stop a handgun round and most rifle rounds. Still, the best protection against rifle fire is provided by a ballistic vest that can take on the more challenging, higher-velocity rifle rounds. These more rigid vests have a high NIJ protection rating of levels III and IV.
A rifle bullet can still deal significant blunt force trauma at the impact point, so even if you don’t get shot through the vest, you may experience a stingy and painful wound from blunt force trauma. This is why all law enforcement officers are required to wear a bulletproof vest.
Protection from Handgun Rounds
When a bullet hits the vest, it’s designed to reduce the trauma the impact would otherwise inflict. This allows law enforcement officers to continue working and respond to the threat without being hindered.
Modern handgun rounds are not penetrative but have enough energy to cause blunt-force trauma. That’s why some officers wear vests that are stab resistant as well. These are often made of coated and laminated para-aramid textiles or metal components.
Some soft pure textile body armor vests can be augmented with metal plates that are effective against handgun rounds. These are generally NIJ Level III or higher. However, the metal plates will degrade over time. When they do, the vest should be replaced. It’s essential to check the ballistic panels regularly for damage like creases, burns, and a suspicious odor. The vests are also meant to be rotated, which helps keep them from wearing out too quickly.
Protection from Slashing and Stabbing
A bulletproof vest is designed to trap and flatten a bullet, dispersing the impact’s force over a larger area of protective fibers. This reduces the trauma to an officer when shot and even prevents them from being knocked down or rendered helpless by internal injuries.
However, a bulletproof vest Jamaica NY offers little protection against slashing and stabbing weapons. A knife blade will pierce the protective layers of these ballistic vests, and spiked weapons can cut through the minute gaps in the fabric.
Stab-resistant body armor ratings are available but are generally heavier and more expensive than traditional bulletproof vests. The best option for law enforcement officers is a multi-threat bulletproof vest, which can be upgraded with front and backstab plates.
Protection from Taser and Special Threats
A bulletproof vest’s non-woven and woven ballistic fibers catch the impact of a bullet and deform it, similar to how a net stops a tennis ball or volleyball. The vest then disperses the bullet’s energy and causes it to mushroom, leaving no penetration. Vests are designed for different threat levels and stop knives and other sharp objects.
Officers need to maintain their vests and take care of them properly. This includes keeping them away from water and using a protective bag when not wearing them. If a vest becomes damaged, it should be replaced immediately.
A Taser is a stun gun that emits an electric shock to incapacitate a subject temporarily. Law enforcement and security guards use it to control potentially violent or uncooperative people. However, many say Tasers aren’t ineffective and may exacerbate a situation. Some people with mental illnesses or on medication have died after being shocked by a Taser.
