Dear Senators Ossoff and Cornyn,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for S. 4970, the “Female Officers Ballistic Protection Act.”
Proper protective gear is the basis of law enforcement officers’ safety while serving in the line of duty. Body armor must have sufficient material strength, weight, durability, flexibility, comfort, and coverage. Any one of those qualities missing can drastically increase the probability of an officer getting seriously injured.
Female representation in law enforcement has increased over the years due, in part, to initiatives, recruitment drives, and policies aimed at inclusive hiring practices. The latest data indicates that women now make upward of 12-13% of law enforcement nationally. Therefore, body armor must keep up with the growing trend and take varying body shapes into consideration. Your legislation would address this gap by ensuring that female agents and officers of the Federal Government are issued body armor that best aligns with their figure and meets the standards of American Society for Testing and Materials as determined by the Criminal Justice Technology Testing and Evaluation Center of the National Institute of Justice.
On behalf of the more than 377,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I thank you both for your leadership on this issue. If I can be of any help or provide additional information in support of this legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President