New Vests, Guns for Middle Police

COURT HOUSE – Police Chief Christopher Leusner used the May 20 Middle Township Committee meeting to present two changes he plans to make to the uniform and equipment for police officers. He said both changes are in line with national trends.
Leusner said that police officers are required to carry more equipment on their duty belts than ever before. The weight of the equipment and the limited area available for distribution have caused stress on hips and lower back areas leading to injuries and back pain. 
Leusner proposed moving the department to load-bearing vests. Over the last year, officers have tested the vests as an alternative means of carrying equipment and reviews have been positive.
Neighboring Stone Harbor Police Department already made the move to the vests. Stone Harbor Police Chief Thomas Schutta said the move was a positive one for the officers.
One study at the University of Wisconsin investigated the health benefits of load-bearing vests vs. duty belts. It found that use of the vests allowed for more even distribution of weight and less stress for officers.
The study noted that officers typically carry equipment that can weigh almost 30 pounds. Better ergonomics for the distribution of that weight was seen as essential to an officer’s long-term health.
A typical duty belt holds equipment as varied as firearms and ammunition, handcuffs, radio, Taser, flashlight, a baton, batteries, gloves, pens, keys, and all-purpose tools. Leusner noted that his officers are also carrying tourniquet holsters.
Leusner also plans to move his officers from .45 caliber back to 9 mm weapons. Arguing that the 9 mm guns offer greater accuracy due to less recoil, Leusner explained that the department changed from 9 mm to .45 caliber weapons in 1998 because the 9 mm guns did not have the “stopping power” the department thought necessary.
Citing improvements in 9 mm guns over the intervening 20 years, Leusner said he wants to move officers back to those guns.
Leusner said this was the time to make the move since a large number of the .45 caliber guns were at or near their life expectancy limits. He also told the committee that the move to 9 mm would allow an officer to carry more ammunition than is the case with the .45 caliber.
The price tag for the move to load-bearing vests and the switch to 9 mm guns is $60,000. The funds were included in the capital budget as part of the bond ordinance introduced at the committee meeting.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.