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Ohio Department of Natural Resources - ODNR Body Armor
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ODNR BODY ARMOR DIRECTIVE

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Effective September 1, 2011
Purpose To provide sworn officers with guidelines regarding use & wear of Body Armor.
Authority The U.S. Department of Justice, Bulletproof Vest Partnership requires under Federal rule that all agencies participating in the grant program to purchase vests will adopt a mandatory wear policy. ODNR is a participant in this grant program, therefore requiring a policy be formally adopted by a jurisdiction that requires a law enforcement officer to wear an armor vest throughout each duty shift whenever feasible.
O.R.C. 1501.01
O.R.C. 1501.013
Reference Federal Register: September 23, 1998 Volume 63, Number 184 Rules and Regulations Page 50759-50762
Resource Department Law Enforcement Administrator Chief Legal Counsel

  1. Commissioned officers are required to wear the Division issued body armor when on duty and in uniform.
  2. Commissioned officers assigned to non-uniform duties are required to keep their body armor accessible in the vehicle or vessel.
  3. Commissioned officers assigned primarily to administrative duties out of uniform are not required to have body armor accessible while working in the office.
  4. For the purposes of this policy accessible is defined as being able to obtain under rapidly evolving dynamic situations.
  5. Commissioned officers will wear body armor when directed by the officer’s commissioned supervisor or Division Law Enforcement Administrator.
  6. Body armor will be worn during firearms training or qualifications.
  7. Exemptions to this policy may be authorized by Division policy to meet the operational needs of the division.