The Akron Police Department recently uncovered a disturbing fact: the ballistic shields used by its SWAT team, purchased from ShotStop Ballistics LLC, may be counterfeit and compromised.
This discovery has led to an urgent response from the department and a federal investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Captain Micozzi of the Akron Police Department stressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “We became a part of a bigger investigation… the plates that we had were some of those plates that were found to be counterfeit.”
The shields in question are meant to protect officers from rifle rounds and other threats during high-risk operations.
On October 18, 2023, HSI and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation executed a federal search warrant at ShotStop Ballistics LLC in Stow, Ohio.
#PUBLICSAFETYALERT – If you have purchased ShotStop Ballistics LLC body armor from 2018 onward, for product safety reasons, we recommend discontinuing use and contacting faultyarmor@hsi.dhs.gov . This is an ongoing #HSICleveland investigation, no further info is available. pic.twitter.com/jSJsFYvCqV
— HSI Detroit (@HSIDetroit) November 21, 2023
The investigation is ongoing, and charges may be filed as the case progresses.
Complicating matters, ShotStop Ballistics LLC filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on May 4, owing $642,200 to debtors.
Law enforcement experts emphasize the critical importance of reliable, high-quality protective gear. “When you’re on the SWAT team and you’re doing high-risk response situations it’s extremely important that you have the best equipment, and the equipment that has no chance of failure,” said Tim Dimoff, a national law enforcement procedures and security expert.
In response to this urgent situation, the Akron City Council passed an emergency ordinance to replace the questionable shields immediately, allocating $60,000 for new, trusted equipment.
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The Akron Police Department is fully cooperating with the federal investigation.
