The Fullerton Police Department is the first in the nation to give its officers the option of wearing new body armor technology capable of stopping high-energy rounds, according to an Orange County Register article published Aug. 7.
Although the new external vest provides obvious safety benefits, it also lightens the daily carrying load for officers.
"It helps out a lot," Sgt. Michael MacDonald said. "Its design initially was to take the weight off the officers' belt and back."
The new armor also accommodates changes in the department's demographic, as more women pursue careers in law enforcement. The regulation Sam Browne belt that most residents are used to seeing officers wear left permanent brown marks on Officer Sheila Drew’s waist, according to The Orange County Register.
Fullerton Police Chief Patrick McKinley developed the new body armor. The protective gear is designed to take between 25 to 30 pounds of weight off officers' waists.
"Our chief looked at a way to get the equipment off the waist," MacDonald said. "Twenty-five to 30 pounds is almost 20 to 30 percent of (a female's) body and they're wearing it on their waist."
The new armor, which has yet to be named, was authorized Aug. 5 by the City Council as a third option for police protective gear. Safariland, a division of Armor Holdings Inc., holds the patent for the vest that is designed to stop bullets from larger caliber handguns and shotguns. Compared to the current vests' ability to stop standard 9mm and .357-caliber handgun rounds, this new option is a safer choice, Capt. Greg Mayes said.
There are currently ten officers on the force wearing the vests, which costs $350 more than the current vest, and 44 officers are on a waiting list to receive their own. The department will pay for the new vests through federal funding - estimated at $7,000 a year - and city taxpayer money.
Although the city council approved the suggestion, neither the city nor McKinley stands to make any profits from the innovation because neither hold the patent.
The new gear is worn on top of officers uniforms and can easily be taken off when needed. It has different pockets for ammunition and equipment and evenly distributes weight on officers.
Although the Fullerton Police Department is the only department currently using the armor, departments across the nation have shown interest in acquiring the vests for their officers.
Newly appointed Lieutenant for Cal State Fullerton's Campus Police, Donald Landers, said University Police are not currently wearing the new vests, but wouldn't doubt that officers would jump at the option of upgrading from their concealable vests if given the chance.
New body armor may help protect police
Published: Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Updated: Wednesday, September 17, 2008
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