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Every police department and law enforcement agency has an abundance of options to choose from for their police equipment. But what are the reasons affecting these purchasing decisions? Several factors such as durability, field effectiveness, security & protective properties, weight, and cost are all as important as each other. Most equipment must meet be able to last several years and hold up through weather conditions and repeated handling or use. The cost must be able to meet the tighter budgets of our local, state and federal governments. The security or threat level must be able to meet NIJ standards which include products such as body armor and handcuffs. The weight of the equipment must be light enough for officers and agents to comfortably be able to carry on them for daily use as well as provide them the freedom of movement. And lastly is the product effective and will it properly allow the officer to do his or her job the best they can in the field. Cost seems to be more important than ever taking into consideration the decreasing budgets of government. This fact does not help any department that is constantly trying further provide the most innovative pieces of police equipment. This challenge will affect both officers' safety as well as many manufacturers bottom lines. In order to combat this many manufacturers are doing their best to outsource materials overseas at the lowest cost. The flip side of this equations is managing quality but many top brands have overcome this hurdle utilizing their own teams and planting them in the factories to ensure the Quality control standards which is a priority considering the nature of law enforcement needs and safety. One prime example of outsourcing can be seen by Blackhawk. The bulk of their gear is made to the highest standards in China yet every branch of military, federal agency and state and local police utilize Blackhawk gear. Another example is 5.11 Tactical gear which is also primarily made in China. Gear such police body armor and police handcuffs which can be considered some of the most important pieces of gear in a law enforcement officer's arsenal must be able to meet NIJ standards to ensure safety and effectiveness in the field. Body armor standards which recently were upgraded to NIJ 01.01.06 is the latest enhancement which many departments are currently seeking to upgrade to. The cost nationwide for this upgrade will cost the U.S. well over 1 billion dollars. Other things to note in these products include the constant innovations in stronger materials, reductions in weight and performance features such as moisture wicking for body and increased locking security in handcuffs. Some of the top manufacturers include Smith & Wesson handcuffs, GH Body Armor, Armor Express, Peerless handcuffs and ASP handcuffs. You can find most of these brands from several dealers and distributors nationwide. One distributor based out of N.J. includes Police Equipment Depot which offer the most affordable pricing and quick shipping. Find Police Body Armor and Police Equipment related information at Policeequipmentdepot.com
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