Humans throughout
recorded history have used various types of materials to protect themselves from injury in combat and other dangerous situations. At first, protective clothing and shields were made from animal skins. As
civilizations became more advanced, wooden shields and then metal shields came into use. Eventually, metal was also used as "clothing," what we now refer to as the suit of armor, which is associated with the
knights of the Middle Ages. However, with the advent of firearms (c.1500), most of the traditional protective devices were no longer effective. In fact, the only real protection available against firearms
were man-made barriers, such as stone or masonry walls, or natural barriers, such as rocks, trees, and ditches.One of the first recorded instances of the use of soft armor was by the medieval Japanese,
who used armor manufactured from silk. Although the first U.S. law enforcement officer to lose his life in the line of duty, U.S. Marshal Robert Forsyth, was shot and killed in 1794, it was not until the
late 19th century that the use of soft armor in the United States was first recorded.
Lightweight body armor has been widely available for use by law enforcement personnel for more than 20 years. The
dramatic reduction in officer homicides following the introduction of body armor attests to the protection it provides. This success story extends far beyond protection from handguns—an estimated 2,150 lives
have been spared, including cases in which body armor prevented serious injuries to officers from other types of assaults or accidents.
A recently completed FBI study on protection provided by body armor
has shown that the risk of fatality for officers assaulted with a firearm while not wearing body armor is 14 times higher than for officers wearing body armor.
Unfortunately, many small and midsize
departments do not have the funding to provide vests to all of their officers.
With the cultivation of the "Vests for Life" program, the National Association of Chiefs of Police has been able to meet the
needs of some law enforcement officers nationwide by providing them with donated vests. While this method has provided hundreds of vests, the need for additional vests is ever present. There is an
opportunity for individuals and corporations to help meet this need. The National Association of Chiefs of Police is seeking funding from these groups to supply police departments with much needed vests.
If funding were available, the National Association of Chiefs of Police would like to provide vests to police departments across the country. The cost of a vest can range from $350 to $850, depending on the
level of protection desired.
The National Association of Chiefs of Police believes that vests are an excellent way to protect law enforcement officers. We expect that if every police department that
desires vests could have them, the number of officer injuries and fatalities will decrease.
We expect the following outcomes:
A. For the residents of the community, the added bodily protection of
officers will help deter and reduce crime.
B. For the police department, increased protection for their officers against serious injury or death.
