Despite technological advances over the last 30 years, 40 percent of officers still do not wear body armor

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)/DuPont Kevlar Survivors’ Club®, an organization dedicated to reducing death and disability among police officers by encouraging the use of personal body armor, today inducted Atlanta Police Officer Corey B. Grogan as the group’s 3,000th member.  Officer Grogran was recognized during a reception held in conjunction with the IACP’s annual “Day on the Hill” event in Washington, DC.

“Since the formation of the Survivors’ Club in 1987, we have documented 3,000 instances of law enforcement officers who survived potentially fatal or disabling injuries because they were protected by their body armor,” said IACP President Mary Ann Viverette.  “Unfortunately, far too many of today’s on-duty field and investigative personnel – an estimated 40 percent – still do not routinely wear soft body armor.  Our hope is survival stories like Officer Grogan’s will inspire others to wear vests and, where needed, upgrade outdated vests.”

“Given the unquestioned acceptance of body armor’s effectiveness and the life-and-death consequences involved, it is imperative that all parties associated with this issue do everything possible to encourage maximum body armor use,” said Commander Cheryl Pendergast, Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.  “The only thing more tragic than an officer losing his or her life is the idea that the loss could have been prevented through the use of a vest.”

On October 8, 2005, Officer Grogan was part of a team of officers attempting to serve an arrest warrant to an individual with a prior criminal conviction when shots were fired.  As Grogan reached to pull Lieutenant John Demmit out of the line of fire, he felt a blunt impact to his chest.  When order was restored, both men were examined by EMS personnel where it was determined that Grogan had been hit twice in the upper torso with bullets from the suspect’s .45 caliber pistol.  Both rounds were stopped by his protective body armor (he also suffered a grazing wound to his face).  Demmit suffered fragmentation wounds to his face after a bullet struck and shattered his radio microphone.  The officers were transported to an Atlanta area trauma center where they were treated and released.  Officer Grogan and Lieutenant Demmit have both returned to duty.

“It is an honor to be part of a heritage that stretches back more than 30 years,” said Officer Grogan.  “Wearing protective body armor is the single most important thing an officer can do to reduce the risk of injury while on duty.  I know because a vest saved my life.”

Officer Grogan’s story continues a line of survivor stories whose origins date back to the summer of 1975 when the National Institute of Justice, working in partnership with the U.S. Army, issued 5,000 vests to 15 urban police departments as part of the first national field-testing program.  One of the recipients of the first generation vests was Officer Raymond T. Johnson of the Seattle Police Department, who also spoke at today’s event.  On December 23, 1975, Johnson was waiting in line at a local convenient store when he interceded to stop an attempted robbery and was shot twice at close range with .38 caliber pistol during the ensuing struggle.  Undeterred, Johnson eventually managed to tear off the suspect’s ski mask before the man broke free and fled. Johnson survived with severe hand injuries, chest bruises, and a unique distinction as one of the first law enforcement officers to be saved by soft body armor.  Officer Johnson, who is now retired, returned to duty and completed his police career.  In addition to Johnson, 17 other vest-wearing officers were saved during the initial one-year testing period, helping pave the way for more widespread adoption of body armor.

DuPont™ Kevlar® was the first high performance fiber to be used in bullet-resistant vests and is still used in many vests today.  Kevlar® is an organic fiber that uniquely combines high strength with light weight and comfort. It is five times stronger than steel on an equal weight basis, providing reliable performance and solid strength. 

“DuPont is proud of the role we have played in protecting law enforcement officers over the past three decades, and we continue to work on developing new technology to make vests lighter, stronger, more durable, and ultimately, more likely to be worn by law enforcement officers,” said Bill Harvey, vice president and general manager of DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems. 

The IACP is the world's oldest and largest nonprofit membership organization of police executives, with over 20,000 members in over 100 different countries.  IACP's leadership consists of the operating chief executives of international, federal, state and local agencies of all sizes.

DuPont is a science company.  Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere.  Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.

Contact: 
Kelly Carson
804-383-3885
kelly.h.carson@usa.dupont.com