THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTIFICALLY BASED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR POLICE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, AND THE PUBLICATION OF TEST RESULTS WHICH REFLECT THOSE STANDARDS, IS INTENDED TO ASSIST POLICE OFFICERS IN MAKING INFORMED PURCHASING DECISIONS. THE TEST OF POLICE BODY ARMOR INDICATED THAT 25 OF THE 53 MODELS OF ARMOR TESTED DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE ESTABLISHED CRITERIA OF PROTECTING AGAINST BULLET PENETRATION AND PROTECTING AGAINST EXCESSIVE DEFORMATION OF THE CLAY BLOCK POSITIONED BEHIND THE VESTS DURING TESTING. THERE WERE 10 GARMENTS OF THOSE FAILING THE TEST, WHICH WERE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CRITERIA WHEN WET. ALTHOUGH THE RATE OF COMPLIANCE WAS LOW, IT IS HOPED THAT MANUFACTURERS WILL REVIEW THEIR PRODUCTS TO ENSURE GREATER COMPLIANCE IN THE FUTURE. ARMOR IN THE REPORTED TEST WAS SUBJECTED TO FIVE LEVELS OF INCREASING FORCE FROM WEAPONS. LEVEL-I REPRESENTED THE MOST COMMON THREAT, THAT OF LIGHT HANDGUNS. THE HIGHER LEVELS REPRESENTING GREATER FORCE AND STRESS, INFLICTED ON THE TEST GARMENTS WITH .357 MAGNUM REVOLVERS, 9MM AUTOMATICS, AND HIGH-POWERED RIFLES. ALTHOUGH THE LOWER THREAT LEVEL GARMENTS ARE RELATIVELY COMFORTABLE TO WEAR, VESTS THAT ARE CAPABLE OF GREATER PROTECTION ARE MUCH HEAVIER AND LESS COMFORTABLE. NO GARMENT IS TRULY 'BULLET PROOF,' RATHER ANY TYPE OF BODY ARMOR CAN BE DEFEATED WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE. OFFICIALS WHO PURCHASE BODY ARMOR SHOULD REALIZE THAT ARMOR CAPABLE OF PREVENTING INJURY FROM RIFLE FIRE MIGHT BE TOO UNCOMFORTABLE FOR OFFICERS TO WEAR. RATHER, IT MAY BE PREFERRED TO PROTECT AGAINST THE 'COMMON THREAT' OF LIGHT WEAPONS, AND BE CERTAIN OF SOME PROTECTION AT ALL TIMES. ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE TEST METHODOLOGY ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)