Station3 doesn't wear his body armor on duty. All cops stop in here.

[Ben E.]

Station3, who is a police officer in Texas, has admitted to me many times that he doesn't wear his body armor on duty. He says he only wears it when it's dark out. This is a call to all officers on the board to make sure Station3 feels like a moron for not wearing his DEPARTMENT PROVIDED body armor at all times while on duty. Here are some things I've learned from Station3 about why he doesn't wear his vest:


1. He hates it.


2. It's uncomfortable


3. It won't stop a rifle round anyway


4. Guns won't fire when it's light out (wears it only at night)


5. Mexicans are naturally bulletproof


With our recent 24 hour period where 11 officers from around the country were shot, seems like wearing armor would be a no brainer...

 

[Station 3]

Hey! we talked about this on the ELB Chat lol


Yup im an idiot i will wear my vest from now on Ben im sorry I have learned my lesson

 

[cory y]

And he works near the US/Mexico Border to boot

 

[mcpd2025]

Definitely not worth the risk. I know its not comfortable, but it beats breathing through a tube or dying... If you can, get an external carrier so you can take it off in the station etc. I know people say they feel like a douchebag using it.... but CoolCop is a GREAT investment, especially in the heat. It keeps you cool and it circulates the damp air from behind your vest. Consider yourself lucky that your department issues you armor and use it. There are a lot of police officers and military out there that would love to have free body armor. I have 2 trauma plates in my vest that are (allegedly) able to stop a rifle round, you might want to consider that too.

 

[Jarred J.]

I hear there is a cop somewhere in Ohio that doesn't work in the snow.... :dielaugh:

 

[MATT3045]

I hear there is a cop somewhere in Ohio that doesn't work in the snow.... :dielaugh:

Who, Parkpiggy?????? HA HA

 

[rwo978]

I have 2 trauma plates in my vest that are (allegedly) able to stop a rifle round, you might want to consider that too.

Ditto. A soft plate on the outside, hard on the inside, then the large vest panel behind that. I want the most protection I can get to my ever-growing midsection. I've worn it like that for 8 years. I don't think I'd ever switch back to 1 panel, or go without my vest. Yeah, it's hot and uncomfortable in the summer, but it's an extra layer in the winter. :thumbsup:


There's only 1 time in 8 years I didn't wear my vest. It was summer and I was installing a demo camera in a squad in the garage. Hard maneuvering with it on, and it was HOT. So, I took it off. I think we only had 1 call all night. It felt weird at that one call without it.


My dept doesn't require the dept issued vest to be worn. There's several officers (including supervisors) that don't wear it.


Point.... WEAR YOUR VEST!!!!!

 

[RL1]

I always wear mine...always. Even if I'm just going to court then going home, if I'm in uniform, I have it on. You never know when another officer is going to call for help or if some idiot is going to be unhappy with a judge or lawyer. Plus, my uniform would look pretty baggy without it.

 

[crescentstar69]

Yes they are hot, and uncomfortable, and (insert gripe here) BUT............. they aren't as hot as that bullet ripping into your body.


I used to skip wearing my armor every once in a while, and every damn time, I got a hotshot call that scared the ever-living shit out of me and went back to put it on.


The new armor, if fitted properly, is amazing compared to my first vest. WEAR IT!

 

[ParkPiggy]

Who, Parkpiggy?????? HA HA

I'm self-insulating! I love this snow!!

 

[kitn1mcc]

your vest if you PPE were it. thats just like what i do and not wearing my gloves

 

[cory y]

your vest if you PPE were it. thats just like what i do and not wearing my gloves

Ummm say what??

 

[Ben E.]

I always wear mine...always. Even if I'm just going to court then going home, if I'm in uniform, I have it on. You never know when another officer is going to call for help or if some idiot is going to be unhappy with a judge or lawyer. Plus, my uniform would look pretty baggy without it.

Yep, I wear mine to court for the exact same reasons. You never know where the guns are, but the guns always know where you are. And my uniform shirts were tailored to fit over my vest, I look sloppy without the vest on.

 

[BigWil]

I work in a town "where nothing ever happens", and I never go anywhere without my vest. It's in an external carrier, and I wear a black uniform. I would never, ever go on patrol without it.

 

[ark_firefighter]

Ummm say what??

What he is saying is ... if paramedics have to wear gloves, and firefighters have to wear bunker gear then alllllll police officers should have to wear vests.

 

[FreshDave04]

Station 3 is a moron... mmmk?

 

[FireEMSPolice]

Station 3 is a moron... mmmk?

 

[Station 3]

Station 3 is a moron... mmmk?

I hate you lol

 

[Retired1]

I've been a full-time police officer for over 35 years, including 9 years on a motor and 19 as a chief. I wear my body armor every day (even when my day is 100% desk duty) . I wear it during off-duty work. I wore one every day in the 100 degree plus TX temps while riding a motor (so hot it turned my shirts purple within just a few weeks). My vests have saved me from more serious injury in two incidents. That's only twice since 1976, but I am here to write this. I currently have two body armors. One is the outside worn (looks just like a uniform shirt) and the other is the under the shirt type. We, as law enforcement officers, do not get to pick the time or place that we will face a bullet or get into a vehicle crash. The vest needs to be there when these things happen'


Wear your body armor - increase your odds of returning home every night!!!!!

 

[Station 3]

Well i wore my vest today the whole day

 

[Ben E.]

That only counts if you continue to wear it every day! You should count youself lucky, by the way, that you have an external carrier that you can slip over the back of a chair while your'e in the office and toss it on really quick when you need to leave. Most of the rest of us have concealable armor that we are stuck wearing our entire shift. But for some reason WE still wear it!

 

[Retired1]

That only counts if you continue to wear it every day! You should count youself lucky, by the way, that you have an external carrier that you can slip over the back of a chair while your'e in the office and toss it on really quick when you need to leave. Most of the rest of us have concealable armor that we are stuck wearing our entire shift. But for some reason WE still wear it!

I understand the thought, but here is one good reason to rethink taking it off in the station


http://www.elightbars.org/forums/showthread.php?10757-Gunman-Walks-into-Detroit-Precinct-and-Shoots-4-Officers


....and this is just but one of the many shootings that have occured in 'safe' station offices.

 

[RL1]

I understand the thought, but here is one good reason to rethink taking it off in the station

http://www.elightbars.org/forums/showthread.php?10757-Gunman-Walks-into-Detroit-Precinct-and-Shoots-4-Officers


....and this is just but one of the many shootings that have occured in 'safe' station offices.

I was about to post the same thing. Now a days, the safest place you can be in uniform is your own home, and even then...

 

[Ben E.]

I forget not everybody works in podunk towns where they're the only one on duty. That's the case for my PD about 60% of the time. Wed/Thurs nights I work by myself, and my PD is an old bank so the glass is bullet resistant and the doors stay locked when I'm in there I still don't take off my armor though.

 

[ISU_Cyclone]

Are mexicans really bullet resistant?

 

[DaveCN5]

Are mexicans really bullet resistant?

Nope. I'm a mexican I would know. We aren't fire resistant either.

 

[crescentstar69]

I forget not everybody works in podunk towns where they're the only one on duty. That's the case for my PD about 60% of the time. Wed/Thurs nights I work by myself, and my PD is an old bank so the glass is bullet resistant and the doors stay locked when I'm in there I still don't take off my armor though.

In a small podunk town working by yourself, you need to be BETTER equipped and self-sufficient. No backup close by!

 

[Phillyrube]

Body armor every day. I added a hard shock plate to the front,, two soft plates to the rear wings, and two more soft plates along the back spine area. I had a guy who didn't want to wear his armor, but after being assigned to the front desk answering phones for a week, he gave in.

 

[Alovebaby41]

My team's motto is everyone goes home. And body armor just increases your odds. And by body armor i mean a vest not underarmor jk hahaha

 

[Bonanno]

I ALWAYS wear my body armor, even on Bike patrol in the summer in 100+ degree heat and humidity wearing BDU pants and Polo shirt. Whenever I'm in uniform, I'm wearing a vest no matter if its for court, a funeral, a traffic/road detail, a school presentation, or just to go in to do office work. You NEVER know what will happen at ANYTIME ANYPLACE. I had to buy my own body armor, I will get the use out of it that I paid for it. It's a small price to pay for going home safe.

 

[rwo978]

http://www.policeone.com/police-products/body-armor/articles/3226759-Editorial-All-cops-should-wear-body-armor/

 

[Paramedic]

Hell, I'm a paramedic and when I work night shifts in some bad parts of town, I wear my concealed vest.

 

[MEVS06]

dude you are retarded not to wear your vest especially after working in Progreso with all the cartel persons that live in that area... your porky ass needs it any way, helps you lose some weight just dont forget to drink water...

 

[Station 3]

I hate you joe lol i figured if i dident get killed working in Progreso since its the friken slum of the valley and most of the Cartel Del Golfo drive thrue there lol i would net get shot in gay santa rosa where most off my calls regard to someones dog taking a dump on someone elses yard or someones mail did not get deliverd in time haha


But yeah i am starting to wear my vest since there is a Headquarters to the Bandidos 1% Motorcycle club in my town

 

[Zoe]

I *always* wear my vest...


But then again I've heard officers yell about the need to always wear a vest but never bother to put their seatbelt on.


Or only take their weapon out once a year at qualifications.


And how many officers out there don't bother working out and staying in shape to protect their lives in that way?


(I know one officer who is enlarging so quickly in a lateral direction he can't wear a vest because he outgrows them to fast.)


We all make decisions about how much we want to protect ourselves... and how important it is for each of us to go home at the end of the shift.


Some departments even enact policies to protect its officers from themselves. (Mandatory Vest / Seatbelt use, or allotted exercise time.)


It's all a cost / benefit analysis. Some are made for us, and some we have to make for ourselves.


I'm glad Station3 has decided to wear his vest more often... but I think there are so many things that we all need to think about when it comes to protecting ourselves... and I'm not sure that a public lashing is the best way to go about it.


$0.02

 

[ParkPiggy]

On the subject of liability-as a traffic crash investigator, I always complain about how we spend DAYS every year shooting, but no time other then during our FTO phase on driving! You are more likely to die in a crash, and more likely to be sued over your driving!

 

[kitn1mcc]

i work for the power company and i better have my gloves on and FR

 

[Ben E.]

On the subject of liability-as a traffic crash investigator, I always complain about how we spend DAYS every year shooting, but no time other then during our FTO phase on driving! You are more likely to die in a crash, and more likely to be sued over your driving!

I definitely agree! Driving was actually my favorite part of the academy, I was told many times that I was the best driver. We spend 99% of our careers driving. And most of the time, we spend 0% of our careers shooting at someone. Some of the officers in my area are horrible drivers, too.

 

[RL1]

On the subject of liability-as a traffic crash investigator, I always complain about how we spend DAYS every year shooting, but no time other then during our FTO phase on driving! You are more likely to die in a crash, and more likely to be sued over your driving!

I agree. We may disagree on pursuits, but we can all agree that driving (both code and normal flow) is one of the most dangerous things we do every day. Even if an officer is the best driver out there, we are contently distracted by the radio, MDT, etc, not to mention the dangers from other drivers.

 

[Code3EMT]

Department policy mandates that we wear our vests. Plus, if anyone ever says anything about not wanting to wear it or thinking about ditching it, they do not ever hear the end of it...