U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Injuries to Law Enforcement Officers Shot Wearing Personal Body Armor: A 30-Year Review

NCJ Number
224045
Journal
THE POLICE CHIEF Volume: 75 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2008 Pages: 20-22,24
Author(s)
M. Jo McMullen; C. J. Williams
Date Published
August 2008
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this study was to describe the frequency, nature, and severity of nonfatal ballistic injuries sustained by police officers while wearing personal body armor.
Abstract
Officers who are shot wearing personal body armor are significantly protected from major injury. However, both perforation of the vest with penetrating trauma and backface blunt trauma injuries do occur about 10 to 15 percent of the time. Both occult and delayed injuries are described. All such officers should be required to seek immediate medical attention. Physicians should direct their assessments based on an understanding of the types of injuries possible as well as their physical exams. Even though over 3,000 lives have been saved since the first officer was shot wearing a modern vest in 1972, data suggests the potential for injury to officers wearing vests. However, there are no large studies describing injuries sustained while wearing body armor vest. Approved by the Akron General Medical Center Institutional Research Review Board, this study attempts to describe the frequency, nature, and severity of nonfatal ballistic injuries sustained by police officers while wearing personal body armor. Data utilized in the study involved events occurring in the United States and involving sworn police officers between the years of 1972 and 2002. 2 figures, 3 tables, and 11 notes