We live in dangerous times. As the nation watches as both criminals and law enforcement members are killed or injured every day, it is no wonder that communities are finding ways to budget more funds to purchase ballistic body armor and other items. When reports show that the criminals are often better armed than the police themselves, in fact, it should come as no surprise that there are shooting targets, tactical gear, and various kinds of body armor clothing being added to police forces of all size.

Turning on the news today can be disheartening. From hearing about the latest struggles between politicians to listening to another story about the dangers that police officers face ever day, there are some people who limit themselves to very little news. Instead of sticking your head in the sand and pretending that the violence around us does not exist, however, it is far more important to make sure that you are part of a community that is making the necessary investments in police duty gear that can protect those who are protecting us.

Consider these facts and figures about the perils that police officers face every day and the clothing and equipment that is available to help them return home safely:

• Of the 66 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in the year 2016, 62 of them were assaulted with firearms.
• In the city of New York City alone, 87 police officers have been saved by body armor since the year 1978.
• The chance of dying from a gunshot wound to the torso is 3.4 times higher for officers who do not wear armor vests than people who do wear them.
• 33 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed with their own weapon in the 10 years, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
• 71% of local police departments in 2013 required officers to wear armor vests at all times, according to a survey by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
• During the last decade there were nearly 60,000 assaults a year on police officers, according to government data.

Ballistic body armor and other investments can help police officers safely do their jobs. When communities invest in protecting officers, the officers can more effectively protect citizens and entire communities.