Every time that you turn on the news or check your social media pages you are likely reminded of how dangerous it is in the world we now live in. Even though there are some good stories out that show the generosity and caring nature of some individuals, there are also many stories of police officers across the nation who are in danger when they head the streets to do their job.
Because the job of being a police officer is so dangerous, a growing number of communities are investing in protective tactical gear for law enforcement officers. From updating police duty gear to bulletproof vests for police officers, an increased number of police forces of all sizes are adding to the protective gear that they provide for street officers. Sometimes covered by community grants or donations from corporations, tactical gear, including body armor plates, are an important addition to many communities.
The bottom line is it can be difficult to convince community members that they are safe if the police officers themselves are not safe. In fact, an investment in new tactical gear is an investment in the well being and the safety of the community.
Fortunately, any time a large city police force upgrades its tactical gear another smaller community has a chance to purchase used equipment for the bigger city. In this way, a number of small communities now find themselves in a better position when it comes to protecting their police officers. Consider some of these facts and figures about the dangers that today’s police force faces when they are out protecting their areas:
- 66 law enforcement officers were criminally killed in the line of duty in 2016, according to FBI data.
- 71% of local police departments in 2013 required officers to wear armor vests at all times, according to a survey by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
- Since 1978, 87 police officers in New York City alone have been saved by body armor.
- During the last decade there were nearly 60,000 assaults a year on police officers, according to government data.
- More than 33% of law enforcement officer deaths over the last 10 years were caused by gunshots, making shootings the second leading cause of police officer death. The number one cause was motor vehicle crashes.
- Of the 66 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in the year 2016, 62 of them were assaulted with firearms.
Americans who are tired of hearing about violent attacks on police officers are those who will be the most in support of increasing the amount and the quality of the tactical gear officers in their community.