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.
Okay, who else thought of George Jetson’s car after that scene?
But I'll be OK. This is my last year here.
My seventh and last summer in the Fertile Crescent. My last year along the rivers of Babylon.
After this, the only overseas gig I want to work is maybe something in Italy or Spain or Argentina...
This much at least is total bullsh!t. The "bad guys" (assuming the writer means violent criminals and not the HRT) are going around with what they've always gone around with - handguns. I wonder how much else is false.
I’m a Sheriff’s Deputy and would appreciate having a magic plate for my standard vest. However a 2 inch thick plate weighing three pounds in not going to be user friendly at all. I currently have a ceramic plate this size and slightly heavier that goes into my SWAT vest that I wear on entries. In a situation like that an extra pound doesn’t hurt. What we need to improve upon is an item we can wear daily that will increase our protection without adding to the bulk / weight we already have with current styles of vest.
I work 12 hour shifts in a patrol car and believe me I know we need extra protection and was in an officer involved fatal shooting last year in which my training prevailed.
We need something user friendly to be able to be utilized with all of our current equipment we have. To an average person a 3 lb plate doesn’t sound like much and not enough to complain about but add up what all I have to carry now and that is the proverbial straw that breaks the camels back.
I currently have 30 pounds of gear added to my standard weight ( 6’-1” / 230 lb) with my Level III vest, heavy duty Danner boots and leather gun belt carrying a Motorola radio & mic, Glock 21 with 14 rounds in a Safariland holster, Asp Baton and holder, S&W cuffs and holder, OC spray and holder, double magazine case with two Glock mags with 26 rounds of 45 cal ammo and a 9mm compact Kel-tec back-up gun behind my cuff case. Brother I can’t carry anymore.
Hollywood Laws of Physics..
Anothere Arizona company we can...get behind.
Roger that. I was a Coastie in a former life, and my boarding party rig was pretty much the same as yours, exchanging a Colt 1911 for the Glock. We wore it over a Mustang suit but I’m still not sure I would’ve floated if I went in the drink. :-)
My first ballistic vest was just kevlar. After a couple of years they came out with new ones that had just a steel trauma plate on the chest, but it was pretty small (I guess we had to just hope that the bad guys were a really good shot). Later the plates got a little bigger and were some sort of ceramic/steel, and they had better side protection.
I didn’t see the part where this new one is 2in thick. Gotta do something about that. Seems like it would really get in the way.
Looks like it is less then $500 for the lower grade specs but I cannot tell if it is sold to the public?
it looks like the lower grade is one pound.
Funny, but when I read JBIT (the company name) I thought it said JBT (their presumed market?)
;-)
LOL
How did I know this was going to be a public company...
LOL... the foundry is but I think JBIT is privately owned. Hey, seems like something that could take off.
I don’t know... you can give them a call. Let us know what you find out.
I moved here last August, having lived most of my life in FL and GA. This feels like the last free state! We love it!
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