The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pennsylvania State Police would receive close to $1 million in free bulletproof vests under a tentative deal with a manufacturer that warned material in some of its vests may wear out earlier than expected, potentially allowing bullets through.
Under the pending deal with Central Lake, Mich.-based Second Chance Body Armor Inc., the state police will receive replacements for their 4,100 bulletproof vests, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported in Thursday’s editions.
Lt. Col. Henry Oleyniczak, a deputy state police commissioner, said some 2,200 troopers will receive new vests while 1,900 others will have protective panels in their vests replaced.
Second Chance offered to replace the vests and protective paneling after tests showed protective material in certain vests breaks down under high heat and humidity.
Tests last year by Corporation Toyobo, a Japanese company that makes Zylon, a synthetic fiber, showed it can lose 15 percent of its strength when exposed to 104-degree heat and 80 percent humidity for 150 days.
The Los Angeles police department also worked out a replacement deal with the Second Chance, according to company President Paul Banducci.
Many Pennsylvania police departments began questioning the safety of the vests after an undercover suburban Pittsburgh police officer was injured in June when he was shot in the stomach. The bullet pierced his vest.
Questions about Zylon have also sparked a federal review of the reliability of police body armor.
Attorney General John Ashcroft said in a statement earlier this week that the review is intended to “ensure the reliability of bullet-resistant vests worn by officers ... .”
The Massachusetts attorney general filed a lawsuit seeking to stop sale of Zylon-based vests in that state. Other states, including Pennsylvania, have launched investigations into the vests.
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On the Net:
Justice Department: http://www.usdoj.gov
Fraternal Order of Police: http://www.grandlodgefop.org
Second Chance Body Armor: http://www.secondchance.com/home.asp