SINCE 1968, ASSAULTS ON POLICE OFFICERS HAVE DOUBLED, YET THE AVERAGE OFFICER WEARS NO BODY ARMOR. THE MOST COMMON ASSAULT WEAPON IS THE HANDGUN; OVER 70 PERCENT OF ALL ASSAULTS AGAINST OFFICERS INVOLVED SUCH WEAPONS. THE BODY ARMOR DEVELOPED TO PROTECT OFFICERS IS DUPONT'S KEVLAR 29, WHICH WAS CHOSEN BASED ON THE RESULTS OF BALLISTIC QUALITY TESTS, ON THE DEGREE OF PROTECTION AFFORDED FROM BLUNT TRAUMA, AND ON TAILORING CONSIDERATIONS. THE MATERIAL WAS SUBJECTED TO IMPACT TESTS, BALLISTIC EVALUATIONS TO SHOW HOW IT SHOULD BE WOVEN, AND OTHER TESTS AND HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL IN THE FIELD. POLICE OFFICERS WHO WEAR THIS TYPE OF BODY ARMOR AND ARE SHOT STILL FACE SURGERY IN 7 TO 10 PERCENT OF SUCH CASES; OFFICERS WITHOUT BODY ARMOR FACE AN 82 TO 100 PERCENT CHANCE OF REQUIRING SURGERY. THE MOST POPULAR AND PRACTICAL TYPE OF PROTECTIVE GARMENT IS THE UNDERSHIRT WHICH IS MADE IN TWO STYLES. POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN 15 CITIES WILL WEAR TEST ABOUT 4,000 PROTECTIVE GARMENTS FOR 1 YEAR TO DETERMINE THEIR ACCEPTABILITY. THIS INFORMATION WILL ASSIST LEAA IN ESTABLISHING BODY ARMOR STANDARDS. THE GARMENTS SHOULD NEVER BE DRY CLEANED OR WASHED IN HOT WATER. THEY SHOULD BE LAUNDERED INFREQUENTLY, AND ALL WASHES SHOULD BE RECORDED SO THAT WEAR AND TEAR CAN BE GAUGED.