N.Y. Police Ordered to Use Bulletproof Vests

Police officers were ordered to wear bulletproof vests on city streets Wednesday after two officers, who didn’t have on vests, were shot to death in separate incidents.

The order, issued by Police Commissioner Benjamin Ward just hours after the Tuesday night shootings, said the two officers “might have survived if they were wearing their vests.”

Officers are issued bulletproof vests during their training at the police academy, but were not previously required to wear them on the job. The officers’ union immediately agreed to the order. The order covers uniformed officers on patrol but not undercover officers.