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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGO 00-04 Body ArmorADM-07.1 BODY ARMOR Date of Issue General Order Number July 19, 2000 00-04 Effective Date Section Code February 24, 2014 ADM-07 Reevaluation Date Amends / Cancels March 2017 C.A.L.E.A. Reference 41.3.5, 41.3.6 INDEX AS: Body Armor Warrant Service Inspections Bicycle Operations I. PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to provide sworn members of the Iowa City Police Department with guidelines for the proper use and care of body armor. II. POLICY It is the policy of the Iowa City Police Department to maximize officer safety through the use of body armor in combination with prescribed safety procedures. While body armor provides a significant level of protection, it is not a substitute for the observance of officer safety procedures. ADM-07.2 III. DEFINITIONS Field Activities - Duty assignments and/or tasks that place or could reasonably be expected to place officers in situations where they would be required to act in enforcement rather than administrative or support capacities. IV. PROCEDURE A. Issuance of Body Armor 1. All body armor issued shall comply with protective and related requirements prescribed under current standards of the National Institute of Justice. 2. All officers shall be issued body armor pursuant to existing labor contract. 3. Body armor that is worn or damaged shall be replaced by the department. B. Use of Body Armor 1. Officers shall wear only body armor approved by the Department. 2. Officers that are assigned to a uniformed function shall wear body armor while engaged in field activities both on regular and during extra duty employment. 3. Non-uniformed sworn officers should wear body armor while engaged in field activities except when engaged in undercover or plain-clothes assignments that his/her supervisor determines could be compromised by wearing body armor. Non-uniformed officers not wearing their body armor shall have it readily available. 4. Body armor shall be worn when serving warrants that indicate the suspect has resisted police in the past, is being arrested for a weapons offense, or other circumstances as determined by a watch supervisor. 5. Care, Maintenance and Replacement of Body Armor a. Officers shall routinely inspect personal body armor for signs of damage and for general cleanliness. b. On an annual basis, officers shall inspect their body armor for fit, cleanliness, and signs of damage, abuse and wear. c. As dirt and perspiration may erode ballistic panels, each officer shall be responsible for cleaning personal body armor in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. d. Officers are responsible for the proper storage, maintenance and care of body armor in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. e. Officers are responsible for reporting damage or excessive wear to the ballistic panels or cover to their supervisor and the Commander of Administrative Services. ADM-07.3 f. Body armor will be replaced in accordance with guidelines and protocols established by the National Institute for Justice. g. The Commanding Officer Administrative Services shall monitor technological advances in body armor that may necessitate a change in body armor. h. The Commanding Officer Field Operations shall continually assess weapons and ammunition currently in use and the suitability of approved body armor to protect against those threats. 4. Acknowledgement of Risk a. An officer electing not to wear the body armor provided by the Department acknowledges the increased risk to their safety. Officers shall not be excluded or excused from the performance of any duty because of the officer's decision not to wear body armor. Officers choosing not to wear body armor are not precluded from responding to the scene of emergency situations immediately. Officers electing not wear or to carry their body armor with them acknowledge that they will not be able to retrieve their body armor prior to responding to any call. Samuel Hargadine, Chief of Police WARNING This directive is for departmental use only and does not apply in any criminal or civil proceeding. The department policy should not be construed as a creation of a higher legal standard of safety or care in an evidentiary sense with respect to third-party claims. Violations of this directive will only form the basis for departmental administrative sanctions.