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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, October 31, 2003

Manufacturer to replace 1,515 HPD vests for free

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Honolulu Police Department will replace 1,515 protective vests made of Zylon with new Kevlar vests at no cost to the city.

Second Chance Body Armor Inc., manufacturer of the Zylon vests that all Honolulu police officers are required to wear in the field, notified HPD earlier this month that company tests indicated that exposure to heat and humidity weakens the synthetic fiber of Zylon.

HPD conducted its own test earlier this week and decided after consultation with the State of Hawai'i Organization of Police Officers to switch over to Kevlar vests, which weigh a little more than the Zylon vests, said Assistant Chief Robert Prasser, head of HPD's executive bureau. Second Chance will provide the new vests, due early next year, he said. In the meantime, it will provide Kevlar inserts for the current Zylon vests.

Chief Lee Donohue's "main concern is officer safety," Prasser said. "We need to get this thing taken care of so our guys know that they're safe and feel safe."

The Kaua'i Police Department is weighing its options, said Lt. Paul Kanoho of the administrative and technical bureau. Kaua'i's 128 officers are wearing vests that were purchased in increments so the department is looking at either accepting Second Chance's offer for replacement vests or purchasing new vests from another vendor, Kanoho said.

Administrative Capt. Paul Ferreira said Big Island police are getting the Kevlar inserts for 200 of its 397 officers using the Zylon vests. Ferreira noted the Zylon vests tested by Second Chance didn't show failure until after three years and none of the vests being used on the Big Island are that old.

Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.