Flashing lights on top of a police car.
When Tucson Police officers George Tequida and Doug Wilfert were shot serving an arrest warrant at a south-side apartment complex on Dec. 1, two of the rounds hit officer Tequida in the chest. His ballistic vest stopped them both.
The nonprofit Tucson Police Foundation is raising funds to make sure that officers are able to replace outdated vests with up-to-date models.
Bullet-resistant soft body armor needs to be replaced every five years, according to manufacturers and National Institute of Justice guidelines. Heat, sweat and the daily wear and tear of a busy patrol officer will eventually weaken the fabric and reduce its ability to stop a bullet.
Ballistic vests range in price from $600 to over $1,000, depending on the type of bullets or projectiles it is designed to stop. Tucson Police officers’ equipment stipend often doesn’t cover the full cost, so the foundation is helping new officers buy their first vest and veteran officers replace aging ones.
“The vests themselves are not cheap. But for me personally, it was a no-brainer,” said TPD spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Bay, a 12-year policing veteran. “You absolutely can’t put a price on your life.”
Since 2011, the foundation has bought more than 450 new ballistic vests, which are distributed as the older ones in use reach their expiration date. Its most recent purchase outfitted 36 officers with new vests, worth around $30,000 in total.
“The Tucson Police Foundation works to ensure those officers have the critical, lifesaving equipment that they need,” said foundation Executive Director Bonnie Faircloth. “Safety equipment needs to stay up to date.”
Comfort is also a concern. An officer carries around a lot of equipment on his or her duty belt – including at least one firearm, a baton, radio, flashlight, ammunition pouches and other items sometimes weighing in at 15 pounds. Older ballistic vests, Bay said, could pack on an additional 20 pounds.
A couple years ago, her own 9-year-old vest was replaced with a newer model that was lighter and designed specifically for women.
“When I was given that replacement,” she said, “what a night-and-day difference.”
Faircloth said the foundation plans to purchase an additional 100 replacement vests for Tucson police officers next year.
Visit the foundation's website to learn more about the work it does.
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