Phoenix Police: Officers' bulletproof vest failed test

CBS5AZ,COM ^ | Feb 17, 2012 | Jadiann Thompson

[BOBWADE]

PHOENIX (CBS5) - Authorities in Phoenix are asking for immediate action after they found that hundreds of protective vests worn by Valley cops may not stop bullets.

Phoenix Police officer Anthony Daley, 30, was seriously injured when a bullet pierced through the bottom edge of his ballistic vest in November. A similar vest was tested Thursday and the results released today.

[Suz in AZ]

The Bourque Terminator Fat Boys stopped 7.62x51 FMJ NATO rounds in NIJ testing. (all six, all plates in testing)

Maybe Terminator is a better choice now.
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120214005775/en/Bourque-Industries-Level-III-Body-Armor-NIJ

[righttackle44]

Wait. Wait. Wait. You expect journalism school graduates to understand weapons calibrations and ammunitions? Their education is pretty well limited school lunch menus, whether or not to use a comman in a series, how often to say, :"How do you feel?"

Oh, and how to harass local law enforcement.

[dadgum]

There is a new armor technology that just recently received NIJ certification. It is based on proprietary process of alloying aluminum with carbon nanotubes. The product is far superior to any thing on the market. It stops EVERY thing. The army did some tests with the plates - from 9mm to 50 cal to C4 in pipe bombs. I will try to get the links up. If I fail, then PLEASE, someone with HTML skills, help me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CgHZY2oZTw&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K-FAqK6A2s&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qppt_d17Pcc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihAvwwSs-c4

[hiredhand]

Yep. I've got a set here that stops 7.62x51. Before we acquired it, we got to shoot one up and we KNEW exactly what it would stop, and what it wouldn't. We also got the ceramic plates that install into pockets on the front and back (makes it HEAVY) that are reported to stop AP. We tested a couple of borderline-serviceable plates with 5.56mm NATO AP and it stopped them well enough.

My buddy in the business tells me that there are issues of strength over time, and care during use is IMPORTANT. He said that this is a HUGE factor in stopping ability over time. :-)

[Suz in AZ]

I’ve seen a helmet made with this stuff and it had been shot with a .50cal and there was barely a dent! I saw another plate that had been hit with 60 rounds (not sure of the caliber) with no penetration. Totally amazing. I think that once it gets traction, a lot of companies will go out of business. Hence, there might be a lot of resistance too.

[DainBramage]

Water effects the strength too I believe. Not the plates but the material itself.

[raybbr]

LEO

Huh?

SRT

Huh?

TL-IIA

Huh?

FMJ

Huh?

DoD/LEO

Huh?

Anagrams - not just for breakfast...

[G Larry]

Given that is failed a follow-up test, it doesn’t matter what happened in the field.

[BOBWADE]

Cool vids

[hiredhand]

THAT is impressive!

[2CAVTrooper]

I’ve seen a helmet made with this stuff and it had been shot with a .50cal and there was barely a dent!

You get hit in the noggin with a 50 cal, it doesn’t matter if the helmet stops the round because the impact force alone will more than likely snap your neck.

[Still Thinking]

What kind of ordinance was used at the scene or during the tests. This makes a huge difference.

I HATE standing there in a "bullet-proof" vest having laws thrown at me. I'd almost rather people shoot at me.

[Tax-chick]

Probably large, three-ring binders of ordinance. Better wear your football helmet to the gun range!

Our legislators (at all levels) couldn’t be more excessively verbose if they were paid by the word, like Charles Dickens.

[hiredhand]

Oops...sorry... translation follows. :-) -

LEO = Law Enforcement Officer

SRT = Special Response Team (a.k.a. - SWAT)

TL-IIA - Threat Level Two Alpha. This is a strength rating for personal ballistic armor given by the National Institute of Justice. TL-IIA is considered the minimum.

FMJ = Full Metal Jacket. FMJ is a projectile (bullet) that is usually a core of more dense metal (steel or lead) which is wrapped by a jacket of copper in such a way to fully cover it.

DoD/LEO = Department of Defense, and Law Enforcement Officers.

[Still Thinking]

I am not that knowledgeable... isn’t there “armor piercing” bullets? (I thought I have read articles about bad guys using this type of bullet in order to kill law enforcement if they wanted/had to).

Yes, and those would certainly penetrate, but even that's not necessary with the type vest we're probably talking about here. Just about any rifle round will penetrate low end vests. They only offer some protection against low-energy/velocity handgun rounds.

[hiredhand]

Yes. According to my friend you're correct. He told me to try not to get it wet. But he said that if I did, to remove the kevlar from the carrier and dry it out, but do NOT put it in the dryer and do NOT expose it to direct sunlight.

[Suz in AZ]

I get what you are saying, but what impressed me was that it didn’t go through the material. I’m sure there are uses for something like that!

[RedMDer]

All contributions are for the
Current Quarter Expenses.

[Still Thinking]

Our legislators (at all levels) couldn’t be more excessively verbose if they were paid by the word, like Charles Dickens.

Sad but true!

[Tax-chick]

But on topic, I’d be a little concerned about this situation, if I were a Phoenix police officer or married to one.