In an unpredictable field like policing, having access to quality protective equipment is always imperative. However, in a global health crisis, that equipment starts to look different.

On January 31, 2020, the Trump administration declared a novel coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), first detected in Wuhan, China, a public health emergency. As the rates of infection continued to rise across the globe, the World Health Organization officially characterized the outbreak as a pandemic. In March 2020, President Donald Trump declared the COVID-19 virus to be a national emergency.¹

Personal protective equipment (PPE) came to the forefront in everyone’s lives, whether at home or at work. Face coverings, goggles, and gloves all became common attire. Police leaders not only had to incorporate these items into their officers’ daily uniforms, but they also had to find new ways to disinfect workspaces and protective equipment that was already in use, including tactical gear, helmets, and body armor.

Protection and Prevention

In the current situation, items such as face coverings and gloves are closely associated with PPE; however, one oft-overlooked aspect of personal protection is the cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces that could harbor pathogens.

“Although 2020 brought many challenges to the policing profession, it also introduced new ways for officers to protect themselves not only among visible threats, but also invisible ones.”

GTech Protection—a division of Force Training Institute (FTI) located in Sherman Oaks, California—offers a cleaning line to first responders that includes a hand sanitizer, surface cleaner, and laundry detergent. A sister company that provides self-defense training was using these products prior to COVID-19 as a cleaning solution on mats and clothing. Originally designed to clean athletic products, the cleaning solution was adapted to a formula that would not cause reactions on the skin.

By the end of July 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency approved the active ingredient formula to certify that the GTech Protection line could kill SARS-CoV-2. The two main cleaning solutions police agencies use from the line are GTech Clean and GTech Armor.

“When you’re talking about PPE or when you’re talking about disinfecting and safety, people only go into half the equation,” said Howard Mallen, president of FTI and GTech Protection. “If you disinfect a room or vehicle, you are effectively killing any pathogens that may have been present at that time, but then you’re leaving that space vulnerable to any new pathogens that may be introduced even seconds or hours later.”² Applying GTech Clean kills pathogens currently existing on the surface while also laying down a thin layer that continues to kill pathogens that may be introduced to that area for up to seven days later.

The GTech Clean surface disinfectant and deodorizer kills 99.9 percent of viruses, bacteria, and fungi. It is nontoxic and nonflammable and does not include ammonia, bleach, or alcohol. The cleaning solution can be sprayed on nearly any surface, including in an office or a vehicle.

GTech Armor is a hand sanitizer spray that is hypoallergenic and contains no alcohol. Due to its formula, the sanitizer does not dry out the skin or create cracks that may be vulnerable to new pathogens. Its spray bottle design also allows officers to use the product as a disinfectant on surfaces while in the field.

Protection in the Field

Although PPE for preventing the spread of COVID-19 has taken the main stage, gear already in place has not been forgotten. Manufacturers are continuing to design protective solutions that are effective and efficient for an officer in need.

A sister company to GTech Protection, designers for the Multi-Threat Shield have created a discreet product that was designed for instantaneous use. “We like to say, ‘At the Ready’ because protective gear is only [useful] if you can use it and get to it,” said Mallen.³ The shield was purpose-driven by two separate agencies. One needed dignitary protection that was lightweight and could be carried for hours; the other was in need of a cost-effective, easy-to-store shield for active threat situations and high-risk searches.

In its open position, the shield offers about three feet of protection from firearms, edged weapons, and blunt objects. Weighing seven pounds, the Multi-Threat Shield is layered with laminated Kevlar and has Kydex plate inserts as well as a closed-cell foam Shock Pad. With an optional level III rifle plate inserted, the weight increases by only three pounds.

In its closed position, the shield resembles a briefcase. A large pocket can store critical items such as a medical kit, firearm, or flashlight. The utility strap allows the user to let go of the shield to move for rescues, reload a weapon, or engage in hand-to-hand combat without losing the shield completely. Its low-profile design allows school resource officers, detectives, and undercover officers access to immediate protection without escalating a situation.

Many other companies have also been working to expand their catalog while also keeping in mind CDC recommendations for materials and disinfecting.

Armor Express is one such company. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, Armor Express has offered police officers lightweight, high-performance body armor systems and related protective solutions since 2005. Their products include hard armor rifle plates, ballistic helmets and shields, first responder bags, and K9 carriers, among many others.

The company’s director of product management and design, Steve Murphy, explained that research and development are at the forefront of every product at Armor Express. At their Central Lake, Michigan, Ballistics Research Laboratory, they test ballistic materials and technical applications to develop solutions that meet standards set by the National Institute of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Our R&D process is constantly evolving, with a focus on creating new products or enhancing existing ones such as the Traverse Dress,” said Murphy.⁴

The Traverse Dress with MOLLE was developed out of the need to provide officers with a classic, uniform-style patrol vest that could lighten the load of accessory equipment. The vest eliminates the need for a traditional duty belt that can be physically demanding on an officer’s hips and lower back. The carrier allows for the movement and greater distribution of weight from the belt to their protective vest.

Available in a variety of colors, the carrier features a front zipper opening design, utility pocket, and a rear adjustable cummerbund as well as internal, front, and rear plate pockets for added protection.

Armor Express has worked closely with their material suppliers and transportation vendors to identify ways to clean and disinfect carriers and ballistic panels without compromising safety in any way.⁵ When handling exposed laundry, the CDC and Armor Express recommend wearing disposable gloves. The carrier should be washed in room temperature water with laundry detergent and be hung to air dry. Armor Express recommends that ballistic panels be wiped down with a CDC-approved disinfectant wipe.

Companies are constantly working to provide safety to frontline workers through research and innovation. Although 2020 brought many challenges to the policing profession, it also introduced new ways for officers to protect themselves not only among visible threats, but also invisible ones.

Notes

¹Proclamation No. 9994, “Proclamation on Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak,” 85 Fed. Reg. 15337 (March 13, 2020).

²Howard Mallen (president, Force Training Institute and GTech Protection) telephone interview, November 24, 2020.

³Mallen, telephone interview.

⁴Steve Murphy (director of product management and design, Armor Express) email interview, December 2, 2020;

⁵Adam Spinniken (marketing manager, Armor Express), email interview, December 2, 2020; Dionne Manchester (senior vice president, Armor Express), email interview, December 2, 2020.