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Why don't cops wear armor?

zombi said:
I feel bad for you MC LEOs having to deal with red tape to wear protective gear. that's just nuts. it's one thing if it's a personal choice, but it should definitely be an option to let you wear the right gear. we can put a man on the moon we should be able to come up with the right gear to let you do your job effectively and still be protected. let us know if there's ever a citizen's petition we can sign
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+1000 I would be happy to sign that. :wtf
 
zombie thread demands brains
 
silversvs said:
Well, to be honest, I wish we did a better job of setting an example of wearing proper gear. I do a lot of motorcycle safety stuff. I talk to thousands of riders each year. The question of motors not wearing proper gear is second only to lanesharing questions. We do set a poor example. I personally think we should all be wearing full face modular helmets, jackets with armor, and some armored leg/knee protection. But as has been stated over and over, tradition and comfort are preventing that from happening. I keep hoping somebody will come up with some gear that can reach a compromise. The modular helmets should be a no brained decision for command staffs to authorize, but very few have.

I think the topic is a good one, but it's frustrating that we can't give better answers than we have.
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These guys seem to have it kind of figured out. I hear it gets a bit warm in South Africa too.
 

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silversvs said:
Well, to be honest, I wish we did a better job of setting an example of wearing proper gear. I do a lot of motorcycle safety stuff. I talk to thousands of riders each year. The question of motors not wearing proper gear is second only to lanesharing questions. We do set a poor example. I personally think we should all be wearing full face modular helmets, jackets with armor, and some armored leg/knee protection. But as has been stated over and over, tradition and comfort are preventing that from happening. I keep hoping somebody will come up with some gear that can reach a compromise. The modular helmets should be a no brained decision for command staffs to authorize, but very few have.

I think the topic is a good one, but it's frustrating that we can't give better answers than we have.
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Actually John is right. My old motor-partner went to work for European company trying to push motor-gear here. Nobody would change, not due to safety, but due to tradition. The stove pipe boots really look nice, but their functionality on todays motors is zero. Ankle high kevlar boots or similar materials are cooler and offer more overall protection.

Tradition is a very hard nut to crack in US LE. Now my old partner works for NICB.....
 
eddiet204 said:
Nice Halloween costume.
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1st Place!


gezzz, no crash bars or gloves.........................:laughing

That big ol light pole (vertical) was partly to blame for the famous ST wobble.

They still have room for some "figuring out" to do.
 
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Punter said:
These guys seem to have it kind of figured out. I hear it gets a bit warm in South Africa too.
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I'm sure it gets cool too, because I guarantee he's not wearing that over 85*


I rode 15 minutes to and from the motor shop today (~93*) and had to peel my uniform off when I got home.

And I'd rather hang out in a walk in freezer than take a damn patrol car for the day :twofinger
 
nweaver said:
What kills more officers? Guns? Or F@#)(*$@)* idiot motorists?
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I think the FBI stats have said crashes are the number one cause of LE deaths for about the last 5 years. The guvment highway safety people have noticed this too and were thinking about solving the problem only as they can......
 
Tharkûn said:
3 of those being motors, and each of them were doing an escort.
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True, the numbers reflect all traffic related deaths, in vehicles or as peds struck by vehicles, motors are a very small portion of the actual numbers.
 
I just got back from ordering at Aerostitch.

I went up there for a Roadcrafter but that isn't what I ordered. After trying one on I knew I would never wear it in a Washington DC summer. They now have a Roadcrafter Lite and an Ultra-Lite. Not the same protection but better than little or none and they weigh a lot less.

I don't think you can view them on-line but they're in the catalog. It may be an alternative that can work in the warmer climate.
 
ptowntsi said:
So what you are saying is that the officers can by all their own personal gear out of their pocket. They make plenty of money to go buy gear, so they don't really have an excuse. its their decision.

Can't SWAT officers just buy their own rifle plates or body armor? to me it seems that if you want the additional protection its worth it to buy it on your own.

http://www.bulletproofme.com/Body_Armor_Accessories_Rifle_Protection.shtml we aren't talking that much money here. thats around 2 days pay for most LEO's for the better plates.
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when are swat officers shot by sniper rifle fire? (aka amied fire to the hart?).

i am not leo so i do not know but from what i have seen/heard it is not so common.

but to me the bike officer in his leathers and very dark glasses is intimidating. so how would a bright safety orange suit be different?
as a tax payer i would like to see the moto officers in full protection suits not cheep cotton uniforms going down the rd.

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packnrat said:
when are swat officers shot by sniper rifle fire? (aka amied fire to the hart?).

i am not leo so i do not know but from what i have seen/heard it is not so common.


but to me the bike officer in his leathers and very dark glasses is intimidating. so how would a bright safety orange suit be different?
as a tax payer i would like to see the moto officers in full protection suits not cheep cotton uniforms going down the rd.

.
.
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Your easily intimidated. Becoming a recluse may be a viable option.
 
packnrat said:
when are swat officers shot by sniper rifle fire? (aka amied fire to the hart?).

i am not leo so i do not know but from what i have seen/heard it is not so common.

but to me the bike officer in his leathers and very dark glasses is intimidating. so how would a bright safety orange suit be different?
as a tax payer i would like to see the moto officers in full protection suits not cheep cotton uniforms going down the rd.

.
.
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  1. Just because an officer buys his own equipment doesn't mean the department will authorize him to use/wear it.
  2. Most police uniforms are not cheap cotton. They are typically wool and often very expensive (~$100 for a wool shirt, ~$120 for standard wool pants probably more for motor pants)
  3. What's intimidating about protecting your eyes from debris and sunlight? I push a patrol car and wear sunglasses during the daytime. I typically leave them in the car when I approach another car on a traffic stop because I like to be able to see deep down in the floor boards, glove boxes, center consoles, and through tinted windows, but I wear them otherwise. :confused
 
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It's the case. Many agencies won't authorize full-face modular helmets or Aerostich style gear. It doesn't stop with motors. Same applies for damn near anything we use on duty. The policy manual is thicker than many of the code books.
 
Jabberwocky said:
Wow, if that's the case i feel bad for motorcycle leos. That's kind of lame.
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Suppose you're a whiz-bang dude on a Mac. You get a job at a company that is strictly Windows based. Good money, and you have fun with it. You use Windows ...
As Mick Jagger sings, "You can't always get what you want ..."
 
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