Tactical Response Magazine June 2014

Patrol Use of Shields

Written by Bevan, Melanie, Lord, Robert

A More Ambitious Practice

In June 2010, Polk County, Fla. Sheriff’s Deputies Paul Fairbanks and Michael Braswell were shot in the line of duty during an early morning encounter with a person riding a bicycle with no light. The suspect was shot and killed and both deputies survived the attack. Shortly thereafter, Polk County Florida Sheriff Grady Judd formed a committee, wherein the decision was made to provide every patrol deputy with a ballistic shield, likely the first large agency in Florida and perhaps the only agency of its size in the nation to do so.

In order to purchase and deploy one shield for every deputy, the agency chose 17-inch by 29-inch ballistic shields. These are smaller than the more common full size 24-inch by 36-inch shields; however, they provide adequate head, neck and upper torso Threat Level IIIA ballistic protection with a viewport. The smaller size allows for easier, front seat storage and deployment of the shields, an advantage over standard size shields.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office also worked with a shield manufacturer, Venture Ballistics, to slightly modify the standard design to one that better accommodated their agency’s needs. This new design is currently sold under the name “First Responder.” Every officer received shield training and, according to then Sgt. Mike Hughes of the training unit, a strong emphasis was placed on when and when not to deploy the shields, what rounds they can stop, and what rounds they can’t.

The shields have been in use in the field for more than two years and have been put to good use. They have an expected life span of five years, according to the manufacturer, and at around $600 per shield were reasonably priced.

Venture Ballistic Composites Inc will be a vendor at the 2014 Gulf Coast Tactical Officers Assosciation (NTOA). being held in Mobile Alabama 21-26 September 2014.  VBC will be introduing the AS-3 and AS-3A "Active Shooter" aerospace designed ballistic shields.  These incredibly light weight and manuverable ballistic shields are designed for deployment in-or-out of the vehicle.  The AS-3 line of shields are the most affordable, rugged, and extreme ballistic shields on the market today.   VBC

http://ntoa.org/site/ 

http://www.venture-ballistics.com/

The Nassau County New York Police Department has conducted an intensive four month Test & Evaluation of Venture Ballistic Composites Inc., (A Florida Based company), revolutionary aerospace designed ballistic shields.  VBC shields were designed and produced  for various law enforcement agencies across America.  Each VBC shield has multiple uses.  The aerospace design and production process has lowered the cost of extreme and rugged ballistic shield protection dramaticall.  Results of the T&E to be released during 2014.   VBC

http://www.police.co.nassau.ny.us

The Clinton Tennessee Police Department has now deployed the "First Responder-1" aerospace designed ballistic shield.  This revolutionary ballistic shield was designed for the "Patrol Officer".  The FS-1 is rugged, light weight with extreme stopping power.  One great feature is the interchangeable view port system.  The FS-1 interchangeable view port system was designed to save law enforcement agencies money. In Jan 2014, Venture Ballistics (VBC) offically launched the "shield in every car" program featuring the FS-1 and the AS-3.  The program has been embraced by many large urban and rural agencies.   VBC custom aerospace designed shields are the most affordable, rugged and extreme shields on todays market.    http://www.venture-ballistics.com/

The Oceola County Florida Sheriff's Office continues to deploy VBC aerospace designed ballistic shields.   Over forty (40) , "First Responder-1 (NIJ Level IIIA), shields have been deployed.  The VBC program of a "shield in every car" continues to be joined by many of Floridas major law enforcement agencies.  The "shield in every car" program is designed to allow law enforcement agencies to plan their ballistic shield budgets far out, while being guaranteed the original low price.  VBC