Second Chance Body Armor has offered to replace defective bulletproof vests worn by Utah law enforcement officers with a cheaper version.
"Needless to say, I am very happy," Salt Lake County Sheriff Aaron Kennard said.
Hundreds of Utah police officers bought the 100 percent Zylon vests from the Michigan-based company. But Second Chance recently reported that Zylon — touted as the strongest man-made fiber — deteriorates under heat and humidity, allowing a well-placed bullet to rip right through it. Kennard tested the vest himself and said the outcome "made me sick."
Sheriff's Deputy Tracey Creno has worn the Zylon vest the past 18 months and paid half of the $950 cost herself. Then, in early October, the company sent her a letter outlining its defects.
"I was disappointed, nervous," Creno said. "First and foremost, obviously, is the safety issue."
The company offered to add 10 Kevlar sheets to the Zylon vest, a fix that failed to meet National Institute of Justice standards.
Kennard wrote Second Chance a letter on Nov. 6 demanding "a full refund or replacement . . . at no cost."
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and other law enforcement officials pushed for a full replacement. A letter from the company was received last week agreeing to replace the vests at no cost.