The Gun Counter

They may not always wear a vest, but a clipboard is almost standard to carry when out of the car, so why not make it a piece of protection too?

http://www.gizmag.com/impact-ballistic-clipboard/20430/

Cops ALWAYS wear a vest now, I don't believe they have any choice in the matter. As for the clipboard I find it to be rather absurd and mall ninjaish.

I don't know - if you need one anyway, I cannot see how it would hurt. Cops in border states all wear vests now - it's actually not that common in SC, which I don't understand, but the old guys I know don't like the "image"

This is nothing new. Someone should make the article's author wear one for a shift, 'cause you don't "heave" one around:

Although police officers in most countries are issued bulletproof vests, they don't necessarily wear them at all times - would you want to heave one of those things around for an entire shift? What they do often carry, however, are clipboards.

Now-a-days, they don't even use clipboards any more - most departments have gone to computerized reporting, but some of the smaller agencies probably still use printed forms. Cops usually carry their clipboard when getting ready to do paperwork, when walking between a building and their car. The vast majority use citation books when walking up to a car they've stopped. If using paper forms and filling them out at a restaurant, something like this could come in handy.

Back in the late 90's, some cops had started inserting ballistic trauma plates into their citation books for additional protection during traffic stops. I guess someone just saw something they thought was new and wrote a story about it.

A while back I actually considered buying a couple items like this for my kids to keep in their backpack at school. They could wear it on their front in case of need.

There was a time, a few years ago, I took a part-time job as a night security guard and wore a vest any time I had to be outside.

As far as LEOs wearing vests, I'm against it because it makes some of them look too flat-chested.

Roughly 2-3% of our department did not regularly wear them on duty. "I'll get it when I need it" and "It could slow me down in a hairy situation" were common reasons.

Whatever. See ya at your funeral and I'm wearing mine.

Steamforger wrote:Roughly 2-3% of our department did not regularly wear them on duty. "I'll get it when I need it" and "It could slow me down in a hairy situation" were common reasons.

Whatever. See ya at your funeral and I'm wearing mine.

When I joined the department, wearing the vest was optional, then after we lost a few more officers, the front panel was mandatory while on patrol (the rear panel was optional). Eventually, it was determined that the only way to get proper side coverage (after losing a couple officers to side-entry gunshot wounds on people wearing vests but did not fit properly enough to cover the gaps) was to require the wearing of both panels at all times.

Unfortunately, it took several officers to lose their lives before people wizened up.

I didn't go into the field one single day without my vest on. I ALWAYS wore mine (they also help protect your chest in the event of a vehicle accident).

Back in the day.... Wow- I'm getting old. We could still carry S&W, Colt, or Ruger revolvers. A number of guys liked the 6" .357 and we used it with Remington 125 gr jhp which was pretty hot for the time. We had a special contract to get vests that included 6 extra layers of kevlar based on the theory that it had to stop a bullet from one of our own 6" magnums. They were extra heavy and uncomfortable but I did wear mine. I'm only 5'6" so I used a 4" .357 when I started. The 6" made me look like I was hangin out the drivers window when seated in the squad 'cause it jacked up my right side.

308Mike wrote:(they also help protect your chest in the event of a vehicle accident).

Saw or heard discussed a study in the early 90's that there were more saves by vests in vehicle accidents than in shootings.

randy wrote:

308Mike wrote:(they also help protect your chest in the event of a vehicle accident).

Saw or heard discussed a study in the early 90's that there were more saves by vests in vehicle accidents than in shootings.

I don't doubt it. FYI, you KNOW it's not a real new item when you can buy "Bullet-Proof Clipboards" from ThinkGeek.com



It's to protect yourself from all those users who continually bitch at you for forcing them to change their passwords on a regular basis.