The events of the last month have once again brought the issue of officer safety to the forefront. Instances of localized terror attacks, active shooter incidents, and even direct ambushes of police officers have all played out across our nation.

The NYPD has begun a $7.5 million project to purchase personal protective equipment, including heavy ballistic vests and helmets, to further enhance the safety of responding officers in the event of an active shooter situation. Twenty thousand ballistic helmets will be distributed to all uniformed members of the service assigned to patrol functions. Additionally, six thousand heavy ballistic vests, which contain a front and rear level three panel, will be furnished in 3,000 vehicles assigned to patrol duties (two per vehicle.) Delivery of the equipment will begin at the end of the summer and continue through January, until all vests and helmets have been distributed.

“Now, more than ever, society is asking its police officers to go into harm’s way and to face grave danger,” said Police Commissioner William J. Bratton. “The department is fortunate to have the financial support to ensure that as they do, they have the best equipment and protection available. I want to thank Mayor de Blasio for his continued support in ensuring our officers and, by extension our City, remain as safe as possible.”

“New Yorkers depend on our brave men and women in uniform to keep us safe every day, and particularly in the wake of Dallas, Baton Rouge and Kansas City, we need to make smart investments to keep our officers safe in return,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Every NYPD officer will be equipped with a new helmet and heavy armored vests so that they are better prepared, and better able to protect themselves and others, in a dangerous situation. This is the latest in a series of investment designed to ensure that the NYPD remains the strongest, most professional police force in the world.”

For the NYPD, the continued focus of officer safety remains a top priority. More than $320 million has been secured to fund a broad spectrum of equipment and training since 2014, including: ballistic vests; helmets and vehicles; tactical escape hoods and belt-worn trauma kits; M4 rifles, OC spray and Tasers; smartphones and tablets; along with a host of training initiatives to complement the equipment and prepare officers for the challenges they face. Much of this funding has been provided by City Hall, the City Council, the New York County District Attorney, among others.

(YWN Desk – NYC)