GUEST POST: Tactical body armor for SWAT teams

As I acquire more sponsors, some of them like to provide bits of information for readers to enjoy. These posts will be marked as guest posts to identify that I did not write them. With that being said, I am excited to announce Safeguard Armour as one of TSB’s newest sponsors. Their goal is to provide comfortable and ergonomic safety equipment for the people that keep us safe. Safeguard was kind enough to send one of their STEALTH model body armour carriers with level II protection for me to test out. You’ll have to wait for the review on that one, but you better believe that I am excited! Without further ado, here is some info from safeguard:

Tactical body armor for SWAT teams:

SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) is an elite tactical team unit used in various departments of national law enforcement. The operations that are out of the scope of regular officers which pose high risk are carried out by these highly trained SWAT teams. Their duties include counter terrorism operations and hostage rescue; search warrants and performing arrests of high risks; keep under control barricaded suspects; and engage criminals armed heavily. SWAT teams are provided with specialized and powerful firearms like assault rifles, submachine guns, riot control agents, breaching shotguns, sniper rifles and stun grenades. Their specialized equipments include ballistic shields, heavy body armor, night vision optics that are highly advanced, armored vehicles, motion detectors which would help them the position of the hostages or their takers inside closed places and entry tools.

SWAT teams services are not frequent but that doesn’t mean that these equipped, capable and highly trained officers will enjoy a leisure time when there is no emergency. There are several departments where these officers are posted for regular duties but they can be called out any time through radio transceivers, pagers or mobile phones. Large and prominent police agencies like the LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) these SWAT officers can be often seen in various roles mostly crime suppression. They are far more specialized and dangerous than the regular patrol although they do not carry their distinctive weapons and armor.

Because of the huge demand of the officers every day, situations might arise where these SWAT officers are given the responsibility of regular patrol. In order to reduce the response time of the SWAT teams in serious situations, SWAT weaponry and equipments are now placed inside lockers that are absolutely secure. It is generally kept in the trunks of the police cruisers that are highly specialized. Los Angeles is a big place with a lot of traffic that why these are cruisers are kept so that the officers won’t find it necessary to return back to the department. Situations that ask for heavy duty equipments may need some kind of alternate arrangement.

Depending on the emergency of the situation including like close quarters combat (CQC) in urban environments these SWAT teams use specially designed equipments. Although the equipments vary from one unit to the other but the trend is almost the same in what they use and wear.

Police SWAT teams, paramilitary squads and tactical units depend on the lightest and best ballistic helmets capable of delivering superior protection. Protective products are available from one of the best manufacturers like body armor which is affordable and capable of protecting against multi hits and sniper shots.

Depending on the unique duties they carry out SWAT team members are found in unique and distinctive uniforms in the field. The fire resistant jumpsuit that SWAT members wear is generally navy blue or black in color. They are well equipped with specialized body armors and belt or vest for ammunition transport and equipments like tasers. Goggles, masks and helmets are common identifiable objects in SWAT members but they vary according to the situation.

In some countries officers wear concealable carriers. The ballistic panels are held close to the body and over the carrier the uniform is worn. These are designed to fit perfectly the body of the person and people who are obese face some difficulty in getting a perfect shaped carrier which is much more comfortable.

Tags: armour, Body armor, body armour, bullet proof vest, kevlar, knife proof vest, stab proof vest

Category: Press Releases