By Barbara Giasone
The Orange County Register
FULLERTON, Calif. — When the Police Department started hiring more women, Chief Pat McKinley drew one conclusion: No way could female hips tolerate the regulation Sam Browne belt loaded with 27 pounds of crime-fighting equipment.
Officer Sheila Drew could vouch for that.
She sports permanent brown marks from the belt sitting on her pelvis for more than 10 years. A woman’s body shape can leave the traditional belt riding more heavily on their hips. But some men say the belts aren’t comfortable for them, either.
McKinley figured he could make a difference, making it more comfortable for women -- and for men as well -- by combining a new, lighter belt with a bullet-proof vest.
He consulted with Fullerton orthopedic surgeon Stewart Shanfield to devise a way to re-distribute the weight and leave 3.5 pounds on the waist.
A preliminary suspender system to hold up the belt failed. An exterior mesh version didn’t allow comfort and accessibility.
The chief, who in his 45 years in law enforcement has never worn body armor, took his and Shanfield’s ideas to Safariland, a division of Armor Holdings, which makes body armor for the Marines in Iraq.
“They brought in their wizard, who made new designs for testing,” McKinley said. “It was partially our fault they didn’t work, because a belt connected to the armor created too much girth.”
Ultimately, fashion designer Katie Fong hit on the right formula.
She took the equipment off of the hips and installed new pockets on the upper-chest armor.
The result resembles an up-front backpack worn outside the shirt. There’s room to carry a revolver, magazines, radios, Tasers, handcuff containers, digital recorders and expandable batons.
Drew and Cpl. Steve Rubio are among 10 officers who have field-tested the apparel for nearly two years. They concluded the flak jackets are easy to take off in the station to cool down and are custom-fitted for comfort.
The officers modeled the armor for the City Council earlier this month, but not all of the council members were sold on the idea.
Councilman Shawn Nelson, an attorney, said he sees similar apparel in court and doesn’t believe Fullerton should only look at one manufacturer.
But McKinley said Safariland holds the patent on his design, and neither he, nor the city, will get one penny for the idea.
The chief figures the armor and a new equipment belt will cost $1,200 per officer compared to $460 for the current interior vest. He has talked with federal officials and hopes to get funding from Homeland Security.
The council is expected to make a decision at the July 1 meeting on whether it will outfit the Fullerton force with the new armor.
The Escondido Police Department is among the agencies in the state interested in the Fullerton design.
“Exterior vests offer better mobility and better ballistic coverage,” Escondido’s Lt. James Stuard said. “And by getting all the real estate off the hips, it’s also helping the nerves in the legs and in the back.”
Copyright 2008 The Orange County Register