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February 8, 2005Study finds vest inserts inadequateBut interim study says enhanced vests do offer increased protectionByRecord-Eagle staff writer CENTRAL LAKE - Second Chance Body Armor insert panels used to fix deteriorating bulletproof vests don't work at acceptable levels, a federal study found. More than 80,000 police officers nationwide use the "performance pac" inserts in their vests, according to the company. The panels are intended to upgrade vest models containing Zylon, a synthetic fiber found to cause the premature deterioration. The National Institute of Justice's finding was part of an interim report on an industry study of bulletproof vests ordered in 2003 by then-Attorney General John Ashcroft. He also asked the research institute to examine whether new protocols for rating and testing body armor are needed. Much of the interim study focuses on Second Chance vests because the Central Lake company was the only maker of Zylon vests to offer upgrade "pacs" to fix the problem. Research continues on the overall study. The interim report said Second Chance Zylon vest samples and inserts "would be considered unacceptable" under federal standards for new vests in all categories of soft body armor. According to the federal study, Second Chance's panel-enhanced vests experienced "significant backface signatures" when shot during tests. In other words, the inward bulge created by the fired bullet exceeded federal standards and was great enough to cause injury to the wearer. Bullets also penetrated some of the insert panel-enhanced vests in the strongest soft body armor classification. Record-Eagle phone calls made to Second Chance officials Friday and Monday were not returned. The report said the vest inserts do provide increased protection and safety to used Zylon vests, so officers should continue to use them rather than no body armor. Crawford County Sheriff Kirk Wakefield said he and his deputies use the upgrade from Second Chance. He stands by the company's assurances. "I haven't taken my vest out and shot it," he said. "I guess I would have to do that. I'm going to have to see some more information on it." Jim Tignanelli, president of the Police Officers Association of Michigan, said he was "very concerned" about the report. The association represents more than 12,000 law enforcement employees statewide. "If an officer is walking around with some assurance he is protected at some level and he is not, they need to fix that immediately," he said Second Chance pulled its Ultima and Ultimax models in September 2003, offering the insert upgrade, a limited warranty and discounted replacement vest program. Former Second Chance CEO Paul Banducci told the Record-Eagle in August that vest inserts were effective. "We wouldn't have developed or recommended this solution if we didn't think it was safe," he said. The company fired Banducci in October, and company founder Richard Davis resumed the CEO role he'd previously held. Company officials filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October, in the wake of more than a dozen lawsuits nationwide alleging Second Chance knowingly sold police officers defective vests, an allegation company officials deny.
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