Two officers killed in East Texas

[Pflugerville Ag]

Sad story. Two police officers were killed last night after responding to a domestic distubance in Payne Springs, Texas. They were wearing bullet proof vests, but when they approached the house, they were ambushed by some guy with a deer rifle. No bullet proof vest is going to stop a high powered rifle.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/18/deputies.shot.ap/index.html

[Burnetaggie99]

Police need to go to military armour vest.

[whitelightnin_23]

never know what you're going to get going on a domestic disturbance call...

my brother (firemen) sometimes are the first to arrive (when there's injury)...he's seen some pretty hairy things...

[Slotback]

Police need to go to military armour vest.

You would be surprised at how many cops don't wear a vest at all. What is sold to the police is designed to protect against a handgun. And the ever popular problem about the low bid is also a reality.

[dresbf]

I don't think it's realistic to expect all police officers to wear a Level III+ vest all the time. The vests they wear are to protect against what they are likely encounter. Police far more often run into handguns than rifles. Also since handguns are more concealable they have less time to spot, react, and take cover from them. You have to make a trade off at some point between comfort and safety. When police know the risks are much greater like when they go to serve a felony warrant or need a SWAT team they do wear such armor, but for everyday patrol and responding to domestic disputes it is just not necessary. As Slotback already said a lot of police do not wear even the lighter vests. Issue them all bulky vests with ceramic plates and that number will go down even further. I do think every patrol car needs to be issued an AR-15 though. If police have to go up against someone else with a rifle at range and all they have access to is their pistols and a shotgun they are pretty much screwed.

[Slotback]

That's why I carry a rifle with me too. It's just and AR15. I think at some point, I am going to save up and get me something in .308