Pitkin deputies need armored reinforcements | News

The Pitkin County Sheriff's Office needs new armor for its deputies for incidents deemed “high threat responses” after a manufacturing defect was discovered in current personal protective equipment.

Department leaders described the situation to county commissioners Tuesday while requesting up to $55,000 for new armor plates that can be worn by deputies in particularly dangerous situations. Existing armor plates were purchased in 2021. The department learned three weeks ago that there may be a problem with some plates.

“Essentially, during an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, they were discovered to be made from counterfeit materials,” Undersheriff Alex Burchetta told commissioners. “We do not know for sure whether the plates we purchased were part of the manufacturing process involving the counterfeit materials. However, we are not prepared to take this risk. We need to provide the best equipment and equipment that will keep deputies safe when responding to these calls.

The plates are worn on the front and back of the torso. They are only used in high-risk situations involving a gun, not during daily patrols, according to Sheriff Michael Buglione. “It’s for the oh my God calls,” he said.

MPs also regularly wear vests which provide some level of protection. Buglione said if the department found itself in a high-risk situation, he would ask deputies to use protective shields that the department also has rather than plates because “they could just turn into powder.”

The plates were collected from deputies and are stacked on a table in the patrol room. The department has been advised not to dispose of the plates at this time in case there is a wider lawsuit over the faulty equipment. However, Buglione said the manufacturer went bankrupt. The sheriff's office plans to test the armor.

A memo to commissioners provided more details on the situation.

“As the issue concerns the questionable reliability of these plates, we had no choice but to immediately remove these ballistic plates from service, leaving a fairly significant gap in the protection needed for our deputies,” the memo written by Burchetta and Parker Lathrop, deputy chief operations officer. “Unfortunately, the manufacturer of these plates has recently gone out of business so we must acquire replacement ballistic plates elsewhere. The events that brought us here were simply unfortunate, but they were also unpredictable.

“We are seeking a suitable, certified replacement ballistic plate that can be acquired as quickly as possible, so we can restore the necessary protection our deputies expect and deserve,” the memo concludes.

The sheriff's office is looking for a company that can replace the plates within eight to 10 weeks. “Right now we're in a period where we don't have additional protection for deputies, that's why we're here,” Buglione said.

Commissioners were quick to approve the spending, citing the need to ensure the safety of lawmakers. They will formalize the approval at a regular meeting on Wednesday.