One thing I have noticed among, mostly California police forces, is that not all of them wear bullet proof vests.

Why is that?

Aside from hot weather all year around, is there any reason for this?

Thnx

my brother is a cop... they ALL wear vests. the technology is such now - a - days, that you don't notice because they have become lighter, thinner and more protective.

Originally Posted by Team Infidel

my brother is a cop... they ALL wear vests. the technology is such now - a - days, that you don't notice because they have become lighter, thinner and more protective.

You might be correct, but I was just in LA and San Fran. None wore these vests there and it was relatively warm during the day and cool at night.

i doubt that.. my bro is a cali cop

Class II or III? Rifle plates? If not, fear the criminal with the assault rifle.

There are versions you can wear under your shirt.

Well, as the resident LEO. I can answer that question for you.

Laziness....

I'm a officer in Miami Florida. Our weather is far hotter than what happens in LA. I wear my vest everyday I'm on duty. It's hot, kevlar is still hot. Sure, it's not like the stuff from twenty years ago but it still gets hot under the vest. Right now the weather is in the 70Fs and I still sweat under the vest.

Most of the veterans on the force (5 years or more) don't wear their vests because they fall under what I call the superman stage of law enforcement.

Stage 1 - First Five Years
Trust no one and wear every single piece of equipment
Stage 2 - Second Five Years
Think you're bullet proof because you're superman
Stage 3 - Third Five Years
Have a close call and wear the vest again
Stage 4 - Last Five Years
Think about Retirement

I believe that I'll never leave Stage 1 for one reason. I've already been wounded in combat. I wear my vest for everything including off duty details.

Originally Posted by major liability

Class II or III? Rifle plates? If not, fear the criminal with the assault rifle.

A Level II or even a Level IIIA would not be enough to stop a rifle round. You would need a Level III (which you did list) to stop a rifle round and a Level IV to stop a AP round.

Originally Posted by 5.56X45mm

Well, as the resident LEO. I can answer that question for you.

Laziness....

I'm a officer in Miami Florida. Our weather is far hotter than what happens in LA. I wear my vest everyday I'm on duty. It's hot, kevlar is still hot. Sure, it's not like the stuff from twenty years ago but it still gets hot under the vest. Right now the weather is in the 70Fs and I still sweat under the vest.

Most of the veterans on the force (5 years or more) don't wear their vests because they fall under what I call the superman stage of law enforcement.

Stage 1 - First Five Years
Trust no one and wear every single piece of equipment
Stage 2 - Second Five Years
Think you're bullet proof
Stage 3 - Third Five Years
Have a close call and wear the vest again
Stage 4 - Last Five Years
Think about Retirement

I believe that I'll never leave Stage 1 for one reason. I've already been wounded in combat. I wear my vest for everything including off duty details.

Very funny!

Most PDs issue their officer either a Level II, Level IIA, Level III, or Level IIIA vest. The difference between said vests are small. As for a rifle round. It will defeat all of the vests listed. You need a Level IIII with Hard Plates to stop a rifle round.

The only plate on the market right now for a Level IIIA vest is the Second Chance K-33 Plate. It is a small trauma plate that will stop .44 Mag out of a 18 inch barrel, 9mm AP, and the only rifle round it will stop is the .30 Carbine. Every other rifle round will go through it. (Not counting pistol calibers from rifles.)