Clay County Sheriff’s Officer Kyle Lickteig wears the MOLLE ballistic carrier with all of his equipment attached with the exception of his issued handgun. Sheriff Mark Buchanan said Lickteig has led the Clay County Sheriff’s Office’s transition from belt held equipment to that of MOLLE vests.
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Today’s uniformed law enforcement officers are required to wear a tremendous amount of gear. Such gear consists of an issued handgun, spare ammunition, handcuffs, a portable radio, OC spray, a Taser, a body camera, a tourniquet and a bullet proof vest. Officers have traditionally worn most all of their gear on their belts. This equipment weighs around 25 pounds. Studies have shown that wearing the bulk of this gear on a belt can lead to back and hip related medical issues.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is in the process of transitioning to “MOLLE” outer carriers which hold bullet proof vests panels. MOLLE is a system which allows for equipment attachment points on the vest rather than a belt. This allows an officer to more evenly distribute most of the required equipment’s weight across the upper body rather than at the waist.
Another benefit of this system allows an officer to instantly remove the vest and all of the equipment while in a secure office setting.
“I want the public to understand that officers wearing this system are doing so for health benefits and not trying to be militaristic in appearance,” said Sheriff Mark Buchanan. Officers are wearing the same amount of equipment as before only in a different and healthier location about their person.