Are LEOs' well protected?

[NJfinest50]

officer killed this friday on a ninja

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?sec...bay&id=8922741

[Motofool]

Probably the classic left turner blocking the path of the bike.

Very sad news: a little driver misjudgment or lack of perception can take the life of a human being in one second.

[oblivion007]

Originally Posted by Motofool

Pictures???

Oh crap, I never got back to you. I'll see if I can get one sometime this week on my morning commute. They be crawlin!

[oblivion007]

I found these on the PD's facebook page. But no full face modular helmets... I'll have to get those in person.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...4539238&type=3

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by oblivion007

I found these on the PD's facebook page. But no full face modular helmets...

Thanks, Alan!

Cool bikes, ..............but vulnerable knees

[jeffb502]

Most officers wear "motor breeches" which look very much like police uniform pants but I assume are different in ways to perform better while on a motorcycle. While looking for standard motor breeches I found these:

Kevlar Armored Motor Breeches

which actually seem to be fairly protective while still maintaining a standard uniform appearance. It looks like standard motor breeches are made of various materials from polyester elastique to wool, and the only added protection are double thickness fabric on the seat and knees.

I've seen officers wearing leather jackets in cold weather, but have also seen many wearing what appear to be standard fabric uniform jackets. This page has motor officer jackets that have armor built in but look like regular uniform jackets:

CopQuest Motor Officer Equipment

I was just watching a video of an LAPD motor officer making a traffic stop on a bike path on YouTube and the officer had a modular helmet. Most of the officers I've seen in California wear 3/4 helmets with sunglasses. I think a modular is a good compromise between being able to communicate during traffic stops and safety while riding, and I would hope they would eventually replace the standard 3/4 helmet.

I wonder if soft body armor would offer protection in a crash. I bought a pair of cargo pants with Kevlar lining that will supposedly provide some protection in a crash. Soft body armor is a very thick chunk of many layers of the same material, so should offer abrasion resistance to prevent road rash on the torso.

I also wonder if all the equipment on a duty belt would hurt more when falling, and cause the rider to roll on the pavement when something catches instead of sliding smoothly like a racer in a leather suit.

[MasterCylinder]

The half-helmet thing is generally of a departmental choice... Mainly they (the people in charge of writing the G.O.'s) feel that it's "less intimidating" to citizens if a motors officer is riding with a half-helmet vs. a safer full-helmet.

[JonR]

Originally Posted by DaveTheCanuck

They need to be able to get off their bikes and chase on foot at any time.

To do what? Arrest a guy and take him to jail on the back of their bike? I don't know about Canada but in the US the only thing bike cops are good for is hiding in bushes with a laser gun to hand out speeding tickets. You don't need gear for that

[xaple]

I know the Japanese bike cops are insanely skilled as well.

[eddiekay]

The NYC bike cops appear largely ceremonial as I've only seen them at parades, long funerals, escorting politicans...stuff lke that. I've only seen HD's and they appear to be older than the cops on them.

[oblivion007]

Look at what LEO's got now.

Link to original page on YouTube.