Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The community will likely see some Mt. Juliet Police officers wearing a different style uniform. The department is testing a modern approach to a police uniform, and one that has greater advantages and options that cannot be ignored. The uniform transitions an officer’s ballistic vest to the outside of their shirt and is load-bearing, which will give relief to their waist because the equipment will be attached to the vest. Traditional, heavier duty belts typically lead to back injuries after many years of service. In a recent university research study, it was determined that officers who carry their equipment on vests rather than duty belts experience much less hip and back pain. This style of uniform will also provide better relief from hot temperatures in the Summer, better identification of officers, and officers will be able to carry additional life-saving equipment such as tourniquets and bleeding control products.
“Our officers’ health and well-being are so important, and we have reviewed research that load-bearing vests are a safe and healthier alternative to the outdated, traditional uniform. It is research we cannot ignore,” stated Chief James Hambrick. “During the test phase, the department’s goal is to make sure that transitioning to the load-bearing vests is the right step to take for our officers and community.”
The information on the uniform study can be obtained from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, here: Load-Bearing Vest Study.
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