41Q - Protective Vests and Body Armor 2019

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Policy & Procedure Page 1 of 3 Lexington Police Department Subject: Protective Vests/Body Armor Policy Number: 41Q Accreditation Standards: Reference: 41.3.5; 41.3.6 Effective Date: 11/1/10  New  Revised Revision Dates: 1/24/19 By Order of: Mark J. Corr, Chief of Police The Municipal Police Institute, Inc. (MPI) is a private, nonprofit charitable affiliate of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. MPI provides training and model policies and procedures for police agencies. This policy is an edited version of MPI Policy 4.11, “Body Armor.” GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES Soft body armor is designed to protect police officers against projectiles fired by most handguns and shotguns and its effectiveness depends upon the protection rating or threat level assigned to a particular set of armor. Soft body armor is not designed to protect the wearer from medium to high power rifle projectiles. Soft body armor may also protect against improvised weapons, like broken bottles, but is usually not effective against knives or ice picks. Sharp, pointed instruments used in a stabbing motion are likely to penetrate body armor and may deliver a fatal injury. Protection may be afforded from a slashing knife attack. While body armor provides a significant level of protection, it is not a substitute for the observance of standardized safety procedures. The purpose of this policy is to provide Lexington Police Officers with guidelines for the proper use and care of body armor. It is the policy of the Lexington Police Department to:  Maximize officer safety through the use of body armor and observance of standardized safety procedures.  Issue body armor to each officer that is compliant with National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standards, with a minimum protection rating of threat level II.  Issue replacement vests as required by current standards set forth by NIJ