Imagine wearing 30 pounds of extra clothing on a hot South Florida day. Broward County Sheriff ’s SWAT officers wear heavy body armor designed to protect them against strikes from powerful weapons. However, thanks to support from Broward Sheriff ’s Advisory Council, pieces of this armor have been upgraded to lighter, higher quality material that weighs 50 percent less. Newer protective plates and plate carriers, the system that holds all of the equipment a SWAT officer needs, are made of lighter materials. The plates are made of composite material, instead of ceramic, and are more comfortable, safer and longer lasting.

​

The Broward County Sheriff ’s Office budgets, set by tax revenues and other government funding sources, are limited. Therefore, this additional funding goes a long way to better protect the men and women who guard our community in the most dangerous situations.  Another upgrade that helps increase the chance of more accurate shots is the Ruggedized Miniature Reflex Sighting System (RMRS). This sophisticated tool mounted on every pistol allows officers to use red dot optics to pinpoint a target.

​

Newer helmets, also funded by Broward Sheriff ’s Advisory Council, include a mount for night vision, are lighter and are neutrally buoyant so they won’t drag an officer down in a water situation. Funding also allowed the SWAT operations to purchase two new high-grade fast ropes for use when officers must repel from a helicopter.