Post by Dr.Ken Sokolowski on Jul 19, 2005 14:35:05 GMT -5
I was wondering: Does the WPD use "Second Chance Body Armor"? If so, how is the WPD/Town going to go about replacing these Zylon-based vests now that the company entered into bankrupcy? Do members of the WPD have to acquire their own body armor or are these supplied by the Town?
A fragment of an AP report follows:
A fragment of an AP report follows:
U.S. Government Sues Maker of Defective Police Body Armor
MARK SHERMAN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. government on Friday sued the top American supplier of bullet-resistant police vests and the Japanese manufacturer of the vests' protective synthetic fiber, contending they conspired to hide evidence that the body armor could be defective.
Second Chance Body Armor Inc. of Michigan and Toyobo Co. knew that the vests' ability to stop bullets was overstated, but Second Chance sold them anyway to local, state and federal police, according to the lawsuit in U.S. District Court.
The government also alleged that the companies kept silent for nearly three years in the face of mounting evidence that the Zylon fabric degraded faster than they acknowledged when it was exposed to light, heat and humidity.
Only after a California, police officer was killed and a Pennsylvania officer was seriously wounded while wearing Second Chance vests made of Zylon in June 2003 did the company stop selling certain models and disclose safety problems, the lawsuit said.
Second Chance executives also ordered the destruction of internal memos, including one that urged the company to take corrective action and not wait until an officer was killed, the lawsuit said.
MARK SHERMAN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. government on Friday sued the top American supplier of bullet-resistant police vests and the Japanese manufacturer of the vests' protective synthetic fiber, contending they conspired to hide evidence that the body armor could be defective.
Second Chance Body Armor Inc. of Michigan and Toyobo Co. knew that the vests' ability to stop bullets was overstated, but Second Chance sold them anyway to local, state and federal police, according to the lawsuit in U.S. District Court.
The government also alleged that the companies kept silent for nearly three years in the face of mounting evidence that the Zylon fabric degraded faster than they acknowledged when it was exposed to light, heat and humidity.
Only after a California, police officer was killed and a Pennsylvania officer was seriously wounded while wearing Second Chance vests made of Zylon in June 2003 did the company stop selling certain models and disclose safety problems, the lawsuit said.
Second Chance executives also ordered the destruction of internal memos, including one that urged the company to take corrective action and not wait until an officer was killed, the lawsuit said.