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Why don't cops wear armor?

It wouldn't work in Fresno in the summer. That's for sure.
 
Yay, a year and a half old thread resurrected. :banana
 
:ride MM4L +100, I went thru 3 dual purpose bikes. We are just now trying to get better equipment (armor). In the past we tried but was always turn down. Just to inform some civilians who do not know, but those 100% wool "britches" moto pantsv that the traditionalist wear are expensive about $220 pair just the pants, wool uniform shirts are about $75 short sleeve and $85 for long sleeves. I much rather used that money toward buying real armor. Wool uniforms are expensive! Each dept is different some unions will pay for the first pair o motor boots about $300-400 depending on brand. Just my :2cents
 
One of the arguments I've heard against the full-face is the use of the chin bar as a way to control the officer. I tried it...it's a remarkably effective way to control a person. Nice handle, lots of leverage. How does that factor in?
 
arnoha said:
One of the arguments I've heard against the full-face is the use of the chin bar as a way to control the officer. I tried it...it's a remarkably effective way to control a person. Nice handle, lots of leverage. How does that factor in?
Click to expand...


Lemme see- did the person who you swung around have a weapon to defend themselves? You could say the same of the chin strap on the current helmets.
 
arnoha said:
One of the arguments I've heard against the full-face is the use of the chin bar as a way to control the officer. I tried it...it's a remarkably effective way to control a person. Nice handle, lots of leverage. How does that factor in?
Click to expand...

Probably not much different that grabbing a female officer by her pony-tail. If the question is what is the best uniform to avoid losing advantage in a physical altercation, I guess we should all be wearing wrestling uni-tards on the street. You have to equip yourself for the job and proper safely equipment does slow you down and encumber you. The 20-30# tool belt, a level 2A or better ballistic vest, cords, cables, hell, even your badge could be ripped off and used as a weapon against you!

The question is, are more motor officers are killed and disabled needlessly, as a result of bike crashes than physical altercations? Just like weapon retention, is there some defensive measures that could be employed to protect/defend and react against being grabbed by the chin strap? Would the added protection (while riding) outweigh the risk if officer routinely removed their helmet or unfastened the chinstrap when faced with a potential physical altercation?

Personally, I think it should be up to the officer what protective gear they wish to use. By allowing them to choose, approving a wide range of gear and providing them the equipment they select, the city (agency) puts the onus on the officer, if they were injured and were not wearing the very highest level of protection available to them. As it is now, most agencies provide the minimum (leather jacket, wool pants, boots, gloves, glasses, 3/4 open-face helmet) and prohibit officers from even purchasing their own additional gear, let alone offering to provide any added protection.
 
arnoha said:
One of the arguments I've heard against the full-face is the use of the chin bar as a way to control the officer. I tried it...it's a remarkably effective way to control a person. Nice handle, lots of leverage. How does that factor in?
Click to expand...
The chin bar is hard to get a hold of when it is in the "up" position.
 
I've seen that BPD cop with the flip up, I never noticed that the uniform was a 'stich however. VERY cool.

Seattle PD also uses Aerostiches and ST1300s. Very bling.
 
Without a doubt a chin bar can be grabbed. But in some of those situations a cop can head butt with that hard helmet while taking other defensive action.

For every time someone might grab the chin bar, there are more situations when the helmet can deflect things thrown at an officer, protect from blows etc etc. So it's far more a protection than a liability as others have pointed out.

Some of the posted photos show Euro cops have long worn better gear. Would be interesting to see what they wear in Spain and Southern France and Italy ...where it's hot. (Well... I was in Southern Spain, in May 2007, and two motor cops were in the air conditioned gas station cooling off. They had full (Gore Tex or similar?) protective suits and flip up helmets. Who knows if they continue to wear em in June and August. I bet they do. If them fluffy Euro cops can tolerate heavy riding gear I bet rough tough American cops can!

Foot pursuit in riding gear is obviously a consideration. There must be some police conferences where discussions on motor cops ditching their bulky protective gear have been presented?
Like a demo on how fast Spanish cops can get out of an aerostitch while unholstering his taser....:p

In theory some (pricey) cool suits could be plugged in under an Aerostitch. Wouldn't help for long off the bike. But I guess that's not too likely as even basic protective gear seems forbidden.

Even in 1978 German cops and CHP wore full leathers and flip up helmets or full face helmets. Rode in sun and rain. Now I see from that photo that they have gore tex or similar. Darker green now. The old green was more visible.

Still even with all those considerations, something better should be done for the most exposed cops on the beat, eh? I hope it happens.

Thanks for all the good work ya'll do.
 
They wear a vest. In my opinion police riders must wear real helmets, not the nonsense that swivels up, and certainly not a 3/4 helmet. It's about protecting the officer and the public; nothing is mentioned about protecting hurt feelings of a public full of sheep and goats. And so it goes.

Since departments persist in NOT protecting its moto officers, I never went into traffic even when supervision asked, as they knew I road a moto in to work everyday. Of course, being diplomatic, and sometimes intelligent, I didn't tell them the above, I just said that I wanted a dog. That made sense to supervision, and gave me a way out.
 
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