Local police outfitted with heavy-duty tactical gear

CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) – In the past, when local police officers responded to active shooter incidents, they would walk into the situation with vests designed to stop most weapons – but not everything.

For serious incidents, SWAT teams would come in wearing Level-5 protection vests, designed to stop heavy-duty .30 caliber weapons, such as AR-15s.

“A normal officer doesn’t necessarily have the higher level of protection,” Mike Nycum, Cresson Township police chief, said.

Now, all of the 22 police departments in Cambria County will be outfitted with a total of 44 brand-new protective shields and RTS tactical gear vests – designed to stop almost any weapon available to buy on the street.

Nycum recalled an active shooter incident with a barricaded person in Richland County and the additional time required to assemble a SWAT team with tactical gear that will keep them safe. With these new RTS tactical gear vests, more officers can be protected.

“If you have this vest, and you happen to… get shot by a higher caliber… your normal patrol vest may not stop that, where these [provide] added protection,” Nycum explained.

The new tactical vests are thanks to retired Cambria County Judge Norman Krumenacker. He noticed that old firearms were being destroyed and realized that they could be sold to raise money – supplying local police departments with needed tactical gear.

“I knew police who lost their lives,” Krumenacker said. “You do your job, and that’s what these people do. But the thing is I have the luxury as a judge to see it after the fact, to just make a judgement. I’m not the guy at 2 o’clock in the morning standing on a porch, hoping I don’t get fired [upon].”

Judge Krumenacker collaborated with the 1889 Foundation, a local nonprofit, to raise $15,000 and provide the tactical gear vests and shields to local police departments.

The new vests are 15-20 pounds lighter in weight compared to the heavy-duty SWAT tactical gear vests but provides approximately the same level of protection. The SWAT vests were only available to a limited number of officers in active shooter incidents. Previously, most officers wore vests capable of stopping some weapon bullets, but not everything. With the new vests, officers will be safer if someone shoots them.

Sue Mann, president of the 1889 Foundation, said they were grateful to help keep local officers safe.

“We understand and know how dangerous their jobs are everyday on the streets,” she said. “We are so grateful to them for everything that they do on a regular basis to keep our community safe.”

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For Nycum and his fellow officers, this can make all the difference.

“[It] adds that extra layer of officers coming home safe every night,” he said.

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