Here’s a problem I’ve been thinking about a lot lately:
My department issues an outer carrier vest SK1 (Level IIIA) with an extra aluminum plate in the front and back to protect against knives and needles. Problem is: The plate might deter the blade and if you get stabbed or sliced in an upward angle the blade might get deflected right into your neck. That’s why they put a little folded part at the top of the front plate in it to create some sort of safeguard. That thing is unfortunately too small for most grown ups and it creates a perfect rail for the blade to slide right into your neck arteries.
Now the mesh inside the vest stops those just fine already and the aluminum plates are just added in there because someone thought that might be a good thing. We tested all sorts of knives and needles and even a sword on some older vests and it was just fine. Of course there is some wear and tear from slicing 50 times in a row but it would not be a real issue in a real situation since the vest gets replaced once it gets damaged.
The plates themselves are quite heavy and make the vest much more uncomfortable and stiff. I’ve seen some of us struggle with movement when getting out of a patrol car or when they need to kneel down. I too feel much more impaired.
The question I am asking myself is:
Would you remove the aluminum parts?
Have you dealt with some similar gear issues or even the legal side of things?
It might be an issue if I ever get into the position of getting stabbed. My fear is the department will get me into trouble for not wearing my gear like it’s issued.
It’s really an issue of “Being able to work better VS department says I should wear it like it is”
I’ll speak to admin and our operational trainers about that too but I am eager to hear your thoughts.