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Oct 15, 2024

Guam police officers now have new bulletproof vests with lifespan of 7 to 10 years | News | guampdn.com

They provide much better protection and are much easier to wear. That’s how the new bullet proof body armor was described by Guam Police Department officials during an unveiling ceremony on Tuesday.

They provide much better protection and are much easier to wear.

That’s how the new bullet proof body armor was described by Guam Police Department officials during an unveiling ceremony on Tuesday.

At just under 9 pounds, the new vests are more lightweight and durable compared to the current vests that weigh between 20 and 30 pounds, Police Chief Stephen C. Ignacio said at the ceremony.

Each vest, including the metal plates, costs $1,280, and has a life span of seven to 10 years, Ignacio said.

GPD ordered 400 plate carrier bulletproof vests. 112 have arrived and 288 are on the way.

The total cost was $512,000, and was paid for by federal American Rescue Plan funding allocated by the governor’s office.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said she “was totally aghast” when she found out that police officers had to pay for their own vests.

“I don’t think we’re doing a good job as a government, or governor and lieutenant governor, if we don’t provide this essential protection for our officers,” Leon Guerrero said.

Ignacio established a “ballistic vest committee” as far back as 2021, headed by Lt. Felix Camacho, and they did “extensive research on the vests,” but lacked funding at the time.

Camacho said they also conducted a survey of the entire police department to find out what types of vests were preferred.

He said many officers chose not to wear the old vests.

“It was definitely cumbersome. There was no adjustability on them...you could barely access your holster or your firearm around your waist,” he said.

Ignacio said GPD plans to ensure that all uniformed officers get the new vests and once they are fully issued, GPD will implement new guidelines “ensuring that our officers are much safer than they are today.”

“I don’t want to say it’s completely (bulletproof)...but needless to say it could take up to a handgun and rifle caliber ammunition,” Camacho said.

You can reach Nestor Licanto at [email protected].

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