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Advice: A Guide to Body Armor for Private Investigators in Mississippi.The vast majority of us will think about television shows and movies when the words ‘private investigator’ are brought into a conversation. The portrayal of a being superior to police officers in their abilities to stay calm under pressure and solve crimes within the blink of an eye isn’t a particularly true representation of a private investigator.A private investigator’s job is actually a lot different than many of us believe it to be and minimally resembles what’s typically depicted on television. The duties that the modern private investigators typically take on include:

• The observation of a person or people of interest
• The interviewing of witnesses for information related to the case they are pursuing
• Thoroughly analyzing records
• Searching for and putting together evidence for court cases 

Though private investigators in Mississippi will need to tend to a multitude of different tasks, a large portion of their job is based in an office setting where the computer serves as their main resource for information. Of course, there are times when a PI’s job leads him/her into the field and the need to go undercover is high. This is typical when information needs to be gathered on a suspect and playing the role of ‘one of them’ is the only way in which extracting such information is likely.Private investigators in Mississippi also see themselves assisting in marital cases where one party in the relationship seeks information on the other.  In such a scenario, a PI may find ways to either prove or disprove the faithfulness of his/her employee’s partner in order to assist with the case at hand. Though a large percentage of a PI’s job is usually on the low risk side, there are indeed instances where high risk scenarios are faced. In such instances, it’s essential that the proper form of body armor is utilized as to protect oneself in the event that threats deadly weapons become present. But how does a private investigator determine the best gear for the scenarios he/she may face? Body armor experts, SafeGuard Clothing explain in more detail. Body Armor For All Cases Ammunition remains the most dangerous threat a private investigator may face when on the job. However, this does not mean that preparation doesn’t need to be made for scenarios that may include knives or improvised weapons as these too, can lead to fatalities.Thankfully, there are a few options available when it comes to body armor that protects against the threats a PI is likely to face. Ballistic Protection- The bullet proof vest which ballistic armor is most commonly known as, is intended to provide protection against a wide range of ammunition. They fall into three main levels as rated by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) namely, Level II, Level IIIA and Level IV. What do these mean?Ballistic Level II - Level II ballistic armor is designed to offer protection against handgun rounds and will stay strong in the face of ammo like those from a .357 Magnum. Level II vests should therefore be worn when minimal ballistic threat is expected.Ballistic Level IIIA - A Level IIIA vest is the ideal vest for situations where higher velocity rounds may be faced, for example threats from a 9mm sub machine gun or .44 Magnum.Ballistic Level IV - Level IV ballistic protection should be worn by private investigators who are in need of a more heavy duty vest due to potential threats from rifle and armor piercing rounds being faced. Unlike Level II and Level IIIA vests which are structured with tightly woven materials to stop bullet penetration by flattening the bullet, a Level IV vest incorporated strengthened plates which are inserted into the front and back panels of the vest. The material typically used to make these plates include ceramics, titanium, and steel. In the event that a plate is hit by a round, it MUST be replaced before used again.Edge Blade Vests Created with multiple layers, intended to create a high degree of friction against blades, edge blade vests are ideal for scenarios where stabbings are likely. The structure of these vests are great at preventing knives and other sharp objects from passing through and causing harm to the wearer. Edge blade vests fall into two main categories: Level II and Level III. The difference in the levels lies within the level of protection offered based on the number of joules an attack is carried out with- the higher the level the higher the number of joules it will offer protection against.Spiked Weapon Vests - Because knives and guns aren’t the only threats a PI is likely to face, other weapons need to be considered when selecting protective gear. Protection against improvised weapons such as long nails, icepicks and even needles come from spiked weapon vests. These bests are constructed with a tighter weave which is able to prevent sharp and pointy instruments from penetrating it.Covert or Overt: Armor Under Cover Private investigators don’t typically have a need for overt body armor due to the nature of their occupation. However, in the event that a stern stance needs to be made and the need to show a perpetrator or perpetrators that you’re fully prepared for any threat, an overt vest will come in handy.Here are the options:Covert - The vest best suited for a private investigator is the covert vest. Worn beneath clothing, these vests are both thinner and lighter than overt vests. However, that’s not all there is to the covert vest. Additional comfort is typically added in the form of moisture wicking fabrics which absorb sweat, distributing it onto a larger surface area, keeping the wearer both comfortable and cooler in warmer climates.Overt - Worn above clothing, overt vests are typically seen donned by SWAT teams and military personnel. Though not wholly necessary for a private investigator, they may come in handy where he/she needs to show that he/she is adequately prepared for a hostile situation.Covert /Overt Covert /Overt vest are high on versatility in that they can be worn both above and beneath clothing. These vests are thinner than overt protective gear but thicker than the normal covert protective gear.Sizing your vest up: fit and function There is no ‘one size fits all’ policy when it comes to body armor. In order to achieve the maximum degree of protection, body armor needs to fit right. Though the need to wear body armor on a daily basis may not be high for a private investigator, choosing a vest that doesn’t fall short on comfort when worn for longer periods of time is essential because the time may come when this is necessary. When worn, body armor should allow the wearer to achieve a full range of motion, bending, jumping and crouching with ease. In order for this to be a possibility, protective gear should reach no lower than the navel region. A vest that covers the groin region will restrict movement, making simple actions like jogging, crouching or climbing stairs difficult, which in turn can be detrimental to wearer’s safety.A Few Final Tips:Do not immerse body armor in water. When cleaning protective gear, remove stains carefully with a soapy cloth and warm water. Submerging a vest in water can lead to its protective qualities being affected. Do not wear a vest that has been damaged. Vests that show signs of heavy wear and tear or obvious damages such as holes should not be worn as it will likely not be able to offer the intended protection.Know that all vests aren’t the same. Different vests protect against different threats. In order to ensure that the vest you plan on wearing will protect you from ammunition, knife or spike threats, check the NIJ levels. Always be prepared. Keeping your vests within close range at all times will ensure that when a threat arises, protection is nearby. Body armor has saved many lives and will continue to do so. However, it is up to each individual private investigator to ensure that the proper measures are taken when choosing the right vest.Chris Taylor / Communications Director ctaylor@safeguardarmor.com SafeGuard Armor http://www.safeguardarmor.com