Great Barrington Police now have shields to protect both themselves and the public from use of force | South Berkshires

GREAT BARRINGTON – In an effort to protect themselves and the community, Great Barrington police officers will now carry a shield in each cruiser that is lightweight but strong enough to block a bullet.

The department bought 10 Vector personal protective barriers and received training last week after voters approved the roughly $26,000 purchase at last year’s annual town meeting.

The shields are a way, Police Chief Paul Storti said, to “de-escalate” situations where there might be violence against an officer and, in turn, violence against a citizen or deadly force. It helps officers protect themselves, Storti added, while making room for communication and empathy.

“De-escalation is a cornerstone of modern policing,” Storti wrote in a news release about the shields, saying they “are an essential addition to our toolkit, providing protection to the public and officers during interactions, providing, at the same time, more time and space for officers. calm volatile situations.”

He said this approach is particularly useful “when dealing with individuals in crisis, where patience and reassurance are key to a peaceful resolution.”

Lenox Police and North Adams Police also use these shields, according to Storti. A Pittsfield police spokesman could not immediately be reached with questions about whether the department uses them. Boston Police and State Police also use them according to the Police1, a law enforcement news site.

The shield’s maker, Vector Defensive Systems, says the lightweight shields were developed by a US Army Special Forces medic to protect officers in a variety of situations, such as motor vehicle stops and when they encounter “blind spots” during a call.

The website notes FBI statistics showing that “Officers are attacked and shot in the head, neck and upper chest where body armor does not cover.”

The shields are rated “Level 3” by the National Institute of Justice, the website says, meaning “They stop bricks, bottles, bats, knives, physical attacks, dog attack plus multiple-shot pistol and shotgun fire a short distance away”.

Storti said the department decided to ask voters for shields after realizing they needed extra protection after responding to local schools during “swatting” incidents – where threats called in turned out to be false.

As part of the rollout of this de-escalation tool, Storti reaffirmed the department’s commitment to autism awareness. Vector also provided officers with “Autism Awareness Responder Alert” stickers for homes and other places where someone with autism lives. Officers have been working on training to understand and respond to situations where someone is autistic.

They have trained themselves to detect situations, Storti said, where “someone on the spectrum is stressed.”

“By understanding the sensory sensitivities and communication differences that individuals with autism often face,” Storti wrote in his release, “we can better serve our community in ways that ensure dignity, safety and respect.”