Investigations of Near-Edge Ballistic Impacts on Law Enforcement Body Armor

89 Pages·2014·13.03 MB·English

NISTIR 8026
Investigations of Near-Edge Ballistic
Impacts on Law Enforcement Body
Armor
Kirk D. Rice, Amanda L. Forster, Michael A. Riley,
and Nicholas G. Paulter, Jr.
http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8026

NISTIR 8026
Investigations of Near-Edge Ballistic
Impacts on Law Enforcement Body
Armor
Kirk D. Rice, Amanda L. Forster, Michael A. Riley,
and Nicholas G. Paulter, Jr.
MaterialsMeasurementScienceDivision
MaterialMeasurementLaboratory
Thispublicationisavailablefreeofchargefrom:
http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8026
September2014
U.S.DepartmentofCommerce
PennyPritzker,Secretary
NationalInstituteofStandardsandTechnology
WillieMay,ActingUnderSecretaryofCommerceforStandardsandTechnology,andActingDirector

Abstract
In2005and2006,twolawenforcementofficer-involvedshootingsresultedinin-
juries to the officers when bullets were not stopped in the officers’ body armor.
Inbothcases,thebulletsstrucktheofficers’armorquiteclosetotheedgeofthe
ballistic-resistant panel. In each case, the National Institute of Justice(NIJ) and
the law enforcement agencies involved had several concerns. Was the armor’s
responseindicativeofaseriousproblemwiththearmor? Wasthearmorperfor-
mance degrading significantly during use? Were similar armors being worn by
otherlawenforcementofficersprovidingtheexpectedlevelofprotection?
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) investigated
how each of the armors performed, including examining the shot panels, per-
forming ballistic testing, and measuring select material properties of samples of
ballistic-resistantmaterialfromthearmors,inordertoprovideguidancetoNIJ.
The research effort concluded that in both cases the bullets struck the body ar-
mortooclosetoanedgeforthearmortobeabletoreliablystopthebullet. The
results of ballistic testing on one incident armor and a similar armor indicated
thatthearmorsappearedtoprovidesufficientprotectionwhenstruckbybullets
away from the edge, in the region normally tested during compliance testing.
Material property testing found that there were some indications of changes to
theballistic-resistantmaterialsduetouse,butnoindicationsofsignificantdegra-
dationinthematerials.
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Acknowledgments
FinancialsupportforthisresearcheffortwasprovidedbytheNationalInstitute
ofJusticeunderInteragencyAgreementNumbers2003-IJ-R-029and2008-DN-R-
121,bytheCommunityOrientedPolicingServicesOffice,andbyNIST. Their
supportisgratefullyacknowledged.
ThePanamaCityBeachPoliceDepartmentandBureauofAlcohol,Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives assisted with and provided information related to the
PanamaCityBeacharmorinvestigation.
TheTampaPoliceDepartmentprovidedextensiveinformation,sparearmor,
andassistancethatmadetheinvestigationintotheTampaincidentpossible.
TheNationalLawEnforcementandCorrectionsTechnologyCenterassisted
with contacting law enforcement agencies, provided information on compli-
ance test results, and provided chain-of-custody for incident armors that were
inspectedatNIST.
Theauthorsthankallofthemfortheirvaluableassistance.
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Disclaimer
Certain commercial products, equipment, instruments, or materials are identi-
fied in this paper in order to adequately describe the items that were used in
thedescribedofficer-involvedshootingsandintheinvestigativetestingdescribed
herein. Suchidentificationortheuseofbrandnamesinthisdocumentdoesnot
constitute recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Com-
merce; National Institute of Standards and Technology; or any other agency of
theUnitedStatesFederalGovernment,nordoesitimplythattheproductisbest
suitedforthisorotherapplications.
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