The reports by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) indicates that protective and tactical equipment is an important safety element for law enforcement personnel and other public safety agents. Further studies also show that for the past three decades, armor vests body armors have saved the lives of more than 3,000 police officers. Accordingly, body armor clothing is considered as a major security level contribution in the line of duty for service men and women.
Currently, there is myriad of body armors that come in an array of protection levels. These body armors are designed to suit and protect individuals against different threat levels. Therefore, before investing in a safety equipment, it’s vital to familiarize yourself with the various types of armor available. Certainly, different body armors have different levels of protection, which are based on specific security threats. Hence the importance of knowing levels of security offered by each type of armor and its protection ability.
For maximum safety and protection, experts recommend that you wear the most appropriate body armor clothing for the specific threat or threats you are exposed to in your line of duty. Studies show that about 20% of the police agents who get shot to the torso while still in protective tactical body armor died because of the inability of their body armor to stop an ammunition. That’s why it’s encouraged to always use the right protective body armor.
Stab-resistant and ballistic body armor are the two types of protective vests tactical gear for law enforcement officers. They offer protection mainly for the upper body part against stab threats and ballistic rounds. Ballistic body armor protective vests protect against bullet threats and reduce the impact caused by bullets. They come in two types, soft body armor that has protection level against small gun bullets and rigid body armor plates made of soft and hard materials that protect against strong rifle ammunitions. On the other hand, stab-resistant body armor offers protection against spikes, knives and sharp edge threats.
Most police officers often wear ballistic resistant armor because they are vulnerable to different kinds of threats such as stab wounds and bullets, whereas prison guards are more likely to use stab-resistant armor. However, there are specially designed protective vests that have both stab-resistant and ballistic protection features. Making it an ideal multi-threat body armor in different types of situations.