(Fanwood, NJ) — The Fanwood Police Department is proud to announce the receipt of tactical heavy body armor kits acquired from the FBI Newark Office through its Legacy Body Armor Program. We extend our sincere thanks to the FBI Newark Office and Acting Special Agent in Charge Terrence Reilly for their generosity and continued partnership in helping us keep our officers and our community safe.
These vests come as a donation and were not purchased with taxpayer funds. The Legacy Body Armor Program was developed to assist state and local law enforcement agencies by providing surplus FBI ballistic protective equipment that remains serviceable, meets or exceeds National Institute of Justice standards, and would otherwise be destroyed.
The importance of such equipment cannot be overstated. History has shown the dangers law enforcement officers face when encountering heavily armed criminals. One of the most infamous examples is the 1997 North Hollywood, California bank robbery, during which two suspects, wearing full-size body armor and armed with high-powered rifles, engaged in a 44-minute gun battle with police. The suspects’ firepower and protective gear severely challenged officers, highlighting the need for high-quality ballistic protection during extreme incidents.
The Fanwood Police Department will deploy this heavy body armor in situations where there is an elevated threat level, following departmental guidelines and supervisor discretion.
Lieutenant Dan Kranz
Chief Law Enforcement Officer
Fanwood Police Department
