Whether helping during a natural disaster or backing up a partner during a firefight, a police officer needs to first protect him- or herself in order to serve and protect others.

Luckily, the wide selection of shields, body amor, helmets, and more currently on the market ensures officers have access to the protection they need to remain effective in their daily tasks.

Armor

No matter the individual or the task, body armor has become one of the most important aspects of police tactical gear. However, NIJ-certified rifle armor often compromised comfort for effectiveness prior to the release of new technologies.

Verco Materials LLC (Verco)—manufactured in Atlanta, Georgia—offers rifle protection armor with boron carbide strike face technology, which was originally developed at Georgia Institute of Technology. According to Gabriel Todd, vice president of technical sales, “[The technology] allows Verco to employ imbricated, body-conforming designs without compromising performance or overly weighing down the wearer.”¹

Verco’s UrbanShieldMH is NIJ certified with Level III rifle protection, providing multi-hit protection against prevalent rifle threats to domestic law enforcement, including the M80 ball, M43 MSC, and M855. A standard torso panel has been tested to stop 30 M855 rounds with no perforations and minimal back face deformations. The lightweight armor has the ability to extend protective coverage with no restriction to movement with continuous, wrap-around rifle protection, complemented by conformal deltoid/upper side torso protection.

Although standard shapes and sizes for use in typical plate or armor carriers are available, Verco can also provide custom armor systems for officers, tactical operators, breachers, dignitaries, and more with personalized sizing and design coordination.

Also working to combine comfort and functionality, GH Armor Systems Inc. has offered a comprehensive portfolio of custom advanced armor solutions to the military, federal, and law enforcement communities for more than 30 years. Within this portfolio, concealable, tactical, and correctional products are designed with wearability and protection in mind. The APB Carrier is one of these solutions.

Available in five styles—APB MOLLE, APB Uniform MOLLE, APB Uniform, APB Laser-Cut MOLLE, and APB Uniform Laser-Cut MOLLE—the external carrier design marries the traditional look with modern functionality. Made of durable 500 denier Cordura nylon material, the front-opening design blends professional appearance with load-bearing features. Each style is equipped with dual discreet chest pockets, a loop for name tape placement, and horizontal and vertical badge grommets located on the left-hand side of the wearer’s chest. The APB Carrier also features mic tabs at the shoulder epaulets and center of the chest, as well as an internal cummerbund for secure fit. Its secure body-side panel access, along with panel suspension for proper alignment, prevents sagging and curling.²

Although the carrier includes front and rear plate pockets, it also accepts front and rear soft armor for ballistic and stab protection.

GH Armor also offers the PH4 First Responder Carrier, a one-size-fits-all armor solution for first responders responding to hostile events.

With a motto of Innovate or Die, TYR Tactical challenges themselves to stay at the tip of the spear regarding products, design, and capabilities. “We know that every stitch counts, and it is our job to provide the best product to the men and women that serve,” said president and founder Jason Beck.³

The company provides tactical gear and armor products, manufactured in Peoria, Arizona, to law enforcement. The products range from concealable carriers to outer carrier to full tactical kits designed for tactical teams operating in a variety of environments. In addition to the carrier systems, TYR Tactical designs and manufactures soft and hard armor to include ballistic plates and shield systems.

By using innovative technologies and advanced material selection, each of TYR Tactical’s products are designed around the body’s natural movement and articulation to enhance the user’s capabilities to complete a mission. The range of lightweight products feature load carriage designs, high-threat protection, and flexibility and maneuverability in key areas. Each product is tested for various missions to ensure its capabilities match the company’s standards, as well as the user’s needs.

TYR Tactical also includes a system designed specifically for female anatomy that is used worldwide.

Telecommunication

Officer safety and wellness extends beyond ballistic vests and shields. Because cellular service and internet is so prevalent in today’s society, FirstNet, built with AT&T, and T-Mobile are able to provide another layer of officer safety by obtaining wireless priority.

In partnership with the Department of Homeland Safety, T-Mobile was one of the main engineering contributors to a solution called Wireless Priority Services (WPS). Although at least seven different carriers facilitate the service, T-Mobile remains one of the main carriers, along with Verizon and AT&T.

Upon receiving approval from the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency (CISA), T-Mobile will provide the WPS feature to the phones of qualified users. “If they’ve added the WPS feature to their phone, it would be sort of like giving them body armor,” explained Stuart Campbell, senior program manager.⁴ A metaphorical fence is placed around first responders who are needed so that they can have priority to place calls or use internet during emergencies.

To activate the WPS feature, a user can simply dial *272 and can guarantee that their call goes through. T-Mobile takes it a step further. If the WPS feature is on an officer’s phone, they do not have to dial *272 when T-Mobile towers are congested. T-Mobile will automatically facilitate priority and preemption. So, the only time *272 should be dialed is if the recipient’s network is congested.

On top of that, T-Mobile continues to protect officers by being the first cellular provider that CISA has contracted to provide data priority. This means that as internet signal decreases for the average user, those with the WPS feature will have more ability to keep their internet connection open, allowing law enforcement personnel to share body-worn camera signal, send messages to their supervisor, or have access to GPS systems.

AT&T has also recognized the importance of telecommunications in public safety as evidenced by their work with FirstNet. First responders must have cellular service to maintain communications with their fellow officers during emergencies. Whether responding to an active shooting in populated cities or rescuing people in rural areas following a natural disaster, FirstNet aims to provide 21st century tools through a reliable, highly secure, interoperable, and innovative public safety communications platform, allowing officers to obtain critical information to assist in the decision-making process.

Companies have consistently recognized the dangers of the policing profession. Although safety and tactical gear can be presented in various forms, these companies are always seeking innovative ways to protect officers so that they can perform more effectively without compromising safety or comfort.