I would assume that given the nature of the “problem”, these guys would load up with plate armor for the vitals. I would. But you are correct, in that cat IV and cat III armor (plate, ceramics, soft, etc.) will stop most everything, once, but when shot at or near the same impact point, again, no guarantees for surviving.
If this hits the fan, we will see armored vehicles come into play. Just like the Branch Dividian thing.
At that time, those politicians who are responsible for this will suffer.
I took a ride up to the Bundy thing just as that was ending. I think it was a Sunday or something. Anyway, the snipers were still there..on the hills all round about. The State trooper who was directing traffic on the side road I was on was really nervous-YET. I looked around and mentioned to him that he was in a very bad area being a crossfire area and all. He knew that it could have ended bad.
Later, a month or so, I talked to a couple officers down here and they told me that the whole GD thing was the cause of one Mr Love..remember him? They said the word was that if it would have exploded, that the state and local and county depts would have withdrawn and left him and his cohorts to their own devices.
Point is that these police officers want to retire peacefully and in good health. They dont like it when a Federal agent comes in and acts like Rambo. I guess Mr Love was escorted out of state and told to never return, EVER.