Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.
Posted on 06/01/2010 10:40:18 AM PDT by Suz in AZ
Police officers know each day on the job could their last. But a Pierce County man is doing what he can to change that by making new cutting-edge bullet-proof vests.
John Bourque and his company, JBIT© Industries and Technology, brought his armored plate to Pierce County for their first ever public demonstration.
"We really want these products up here," Bourque said.
Bourque is a local guy who made it big developing cutting-edge armor. But when he watched the news about Seattle officer Timothy Brenton being gunned-down, then the four Lakewood officers and Pierce County Deputy Kent Mundell, John came home to make sure it never happened again.
"My mom, who was born here in Seattle -- first thing she says is 'Johnny, you need to get up there and show them what you've got,' " he said.
John's armor plates slip inside an officer's vest. Bullets spark when they hit because the plates are made out of aluminum and only weigh 3 pounds.
But they can stop the most powerful rounds from the most powerful assault rifles -- the very same guns the bad guys are carrying these days.
The cops watching liked what they saw. "Yeah, yeah -- it's impressive," one said.
Then it was their turn to try. Pierce County Sgt. Mark Berry fired multiple rounds at close range into the vest. It took 60 rounds and had an officer been wearing it in his vest, he'd still be alive.
So the next time an officer is staring down the barrel of a gun, this little plate might just save their life.
JBIT is located in Tucson, AZ and the plates are manufactured by a company in Eloy, AZ called Global Platinum and Gold, Inc. (http://www.globalplatinumonline.com).
Check out the news for them (http://www.globalplatinumonline.com/news.htm).
Certification is nearly complete by the National Institute of Justice.
Here is their May 17th press release:
Global Platinum + Gold, Inc., together with it associates Bourque Alloys LLC and JBIT, Inc. have identified a new market in the law enforcement segment for protective strike plates, or personal hard armor protection. We have determined that a majority of uniformed law enforcement personnel throughout the country are required or highly recommended they all wear a 4 x 8 trauma plate. We have further determined that a majority of these plates are produced off shore by foreign manufacturers. This is not acceptable. Bourque Alloys and JBIT, Inc. have already commenced the process of having its own 4 x 8 plate certified by the National Institute of Justice.
Global produces the proprietary Kryron material that gives the aluminum alloy plates their special properties, which among others, hardens the aluminum alloy sufficient to not allow penetration by weapons projectiles. We have been assured by numerous law enforcement agencies that if an American product is available for purchase of equal or greater quality they will have no hesitation in purchasing our product. We believe that our strike plates are superior to anything presently on the market and that we have an excellent opportunity to significantly penetrate this market. These plates are smaller than the plates worn by military personnel, swat teams, and the like. JBIT, Inc. is currently offering 3 plate sizes and a ballistic curtain that unfolds over the door to provide complete protection when an officer finds themselves in a dangerous situation.
Our primary strike plate (10 x 12) is still undergoing testing with the National Institute of Justice. We expect no difficulties and may have results within two weeks. Each plate model requires separate certification with the National Institute of Justice-much like patent work, there will always be new and or improved plate models in for testing and certification.
Global is a licensee of Bourque Alloys and JBIT, Inc., and produces the most essential, and important ingredients that go into the creation of the aluminum alloy strike plates.
(Stock symbol for Global is "GPGI")
AZ is awesome. Great job by this fellow. American innovation.
I had to read that again. My brain read it as Krypton the first time.
WOW.. Godspeed AZ!
realizing that the bullets bounce off the plate, i’m not sure i would have opened up on it from 10 feet away.
don’t get me wrong... sweet rig. it’s only aluminum? that stops bullets? why hasn’t that been done before?
and the next question... can he make a whole body suit out of it... with some red and gold paint?
ok... Kryron material added to the aluminum... making more sense now. (i watched the video. they only said aluminum)
Any big mouthed Police Chiefs want to boycott this?!
I'd love to have those plates.
Carrying an extra 40 pounds on me on hellishly hot days just sucks.
“it’s only aluminum? that stops bullets? why hasn’t that been done before?
and the next question... can he make a whole body suit out of it... with some red and gold paint?”
*****
I understand that it is a special alloy. Who knows, maybe there are red and gold suits on the horizon LOL. I hear they are adding one thing at a time because each item has to be individually certified. First the trauma plates, then the bigger body armor plates, etc... Could be used to armor vehicles and so forth. Seems the possibilities are endless.
WA will boycott these.
Will be very cool if it really works as advertised. I’m a little cautious if only they’re getting a little ahead of themselves by starting the press release publicity *before* there are any definitive test results by a 3rd party. Remember “Dragonskin”? IIRC it turned out that after testing by somebody other than the manufacturer, it didn’t quite live up to it’s publicity.
Being “made in America” isn’t what makes the difference, though. Stopping bullets makes the difference.
We’ll see, though. Technology will march on and one of these days somebody will do it. Maybe it’s these guys.
Are you required to us DOD approved stuff or can you buy “off the shelf”?
Lead, Aluminum, Copper? Spark?
Gotta use what they issue us. And it weighs a LOT.
Gotta watch the developments on this one!
KT-MIA™ Full Coverage Tactical Plate
- Size 10" x 12" x 1"
- Operator Cuts on upper corners
- weight 6+ lbs.
Call for pricing
Crap. I've got a real good source on some Level III stuff. It's real comfortable compared to DOD issue and is proofed against 7.62 rifle rounds.
I'm sorry I'm unable to be of any assistance.
Yes, but I'm in my last year here.
No, really. This is the last one. ;-)
I LOVE Ironman!! :D
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