Twice Stung, Officer Plans to Embrace Vest

Yes, the vests are hot, sweaty and very uncomfortable. Working here in the Southwest I can tell you that I hate wearing mine, but there is no valid reason for not wearing it. Thank God the officer survived.

If an officer works day shift I under stand the vest gets hot. However, 90 percent of agencies dont have foot post anymore and officers are in an air conditioned car. So there is no "its hot" excuss. When I worked days on patrol which was not often I used my vest and kept windows down or ac up on high. Night shift is not as hot so I cant see oficers complaining then. The thinking that got this officer injured by gunfire (which could happen with a vest on) is unacceptable in our profession. It is this mentality that makes officers lazyand unsafe not only for them but for fellow officers. As an officer this selfish mentality makes me mad. I am glad he is okay and I hope he has a good and speedy recovery but how many times does he think he can get away with it. Once is one to many he should have learned from the first time.

Where are these officers who don't wear vests? It seems like every time an article is posted about this issue, everyone who responds is adamantly in favor of vests. I want to hear from someone who says, "Aw shucks, vests aren't comfortable!"

All of the "younger" officers on my department wear our vests 99% of the time, but its the "old timers" that think they don't need them, and wont wear them at all.

Now they make a new device that hooks up the the patrol cars' a/c vent and it directs the air into the vest while in the car.It's just a hose that hooks to the vent and hooks to the collar of the vest.But what would be a great idea is a device that blows air into the vest while out of the car, like a simple little fan of some sort.

They suck. They're uncomfortable, they stink, they're sweaty and nasty, and they're like wearing a plastic garbage bag under polyester. Vehicle air conditioning on full blast has no effect on the heat, sweat, or stink.

And I'd never not wear one. I'll take any advantage I can get.

I agree with Ryan in WI, same in our agency, the younger guys all wear vests but a lot of the old dogs don't feel the need...Including one guy who got shot about 10 years ago, no vest no handcuffs on patrol....groan...

and yes they're friggen hot under your shirt, but better than dead i guess

Cops say they lay down their lives on the line everyday; however, it seems that some of them don't care about their own lives when they will not put on a vest, so why should the public care if a cop is gunned down?