By Jason Barnes
Chandler Police Department (AZ)

When the Chandler Police Department implemented the Taser as an additional tool, the limited space on their equipment belts caused some officers to remove such items as O.C. and the expandable baton. As a result, our bike team began seeking an alternative way to carry our weapon systems. We started looking at vest carriers from various manufacturers, but could not find any that did not have a tactical look. Then we discovered a seamstress by the name of Lily at East Valley Uniforms in Tempe, AZ, who could custom make an outer vest which would hold our existing ballistic panels. After approval from our department, we set about custom-designing our vests.

The vest is made of a durable material that comes in blue, black, or tan. We chose blue because we wear blue Olympic shirts, shorts, and pants. We had pockets for the Taser and an extra cartridge placed on the left front of the vest. On the right side, we included pockets for O.C., expandable baton, and tactical flashlight. There are two breast pockets, each of which will hold either a small notebook or F.I. cards. There are two handcuff cases on the rear of the vest, along with Velcro for a police insignia patch. Pockets for gloves and plastic bags can be found on the inside. There is a soft badge and nametag attached by Velcro.

I wore the vest over a six month period which included both cold and hot conditions. The vest felt a little warmer than a standard vest because of the extra, thicker material. This was fine in colder weather as you are limited by the number of layers you can put on underneath the vest. It is not too bad in the warmer weather, either, because the vest can be easily removed to cool off. This is one of its biggest advantages, along with having less weight around the back and hips, and being able to throw it on over plain clothes while working an undercover detail.

I am very satisfied with the vest and would not want to switch back to a standard under-the-shirt system. The vest can be purchased at East Valley Uniforms in Tempe, AZ (480-831-5199) for approximately $180-$220.

Jason has been on the Chandler Police Department Bike Team for approximately three years and has been an IPMBA member for approximately one year. He can be reached at ej52339@mindspring.com.

© 2005 IPMBA. This review appeared in the Winter 2005 issue of IPMBA News.