SWAT Officer Invents Passive Body Armor Ventilation System
The TacVent achieves separation of the armor from the wearer's body with space rather than material, using a corrugated panel of soft, rubbery plastic comprised of vented, vertical grooves. This panel pushes the armor away from the body by a half inch, which allows heat to escape from the torso and flow upward, uninhibited and out of the vest. Shelton says this effect cools the wearer's body surface by up to 14.5 degrees.
On Nov., 2013, at 9:20 a.m., an active shooter attacked Los Angeles International Airport, targeting TSA, killing one and wounding two. After the suspect was neutralized, Sgt. Jeff Shelton and his tactical unit continued to search the airport for additional suspects. After several hours of sweating beneath their heavy armor and tactical gear, the team began to dehydrate and overheat, and necessity being the mother of all invention, Shelton discovered a way to passively and effectively ventilate body armor. Shelton is now marketing his body armor ventilation invention as the TacVent.
The TacVent achieves separation of the armor from the wearer's body with space rather than material, using a corrugated panel of soft, rubbery plastic comprised of vented, vertical grooves. This panel pushes the armor away from the body by a half inch, which allows heat to escape from the torso and flow upward, uninhibited and out of the vest. Shelton says this effect cools the wearer's body surface by up to 14.5 degrees.
The TacVent is not a garment to wear or strap on, and the tension of a vest and the TacVent’s rubbery surface ensure a secure fit all day with no shifting. Users also have the option of using provided zip ties for added security, for attaching the TacVent to outer carriers, or for easy addition of a rear panel.
Another benefit of the TacVent, according to Shelton, is trauma attenuation. Shelton says ballistic clay testing showed that with the TacVent, blunt force damage to the clay and the carrier was minimal. Without the TacVent during the same ballistic clay testing, the carrier was torn significantly and there was massive damage to the clay underneath the vest.
Trimming and customizing of a standard XL TacVent is extremely easy, requiring only a blade or a pair of scissors. The TacVent can be cleaned with just a simple wipe-down.
The TacVent, made in the USA, is available at TacVent.com. It retails at $34.99 for one panel, $59.98 for two, with additional discounts for bulk orders. TacVent will honor the discounted price for those customers who later opt for a second panel.
More Technology
2026 Vision FirstNet Users Summit to Explore How FirstNet Fusion and LMR Are Redefining Mission-Critical Communications
One of the sessions at the 2026 Vision FirstNet Users Summit will highlight hybrid devices bridging broadband and LMR. “Bridging Broadband and LMR: FirstNet Fusion and the Rise of Hybrid Devices” will explore how public safety agencies can modernize their communications environments while maintaining the reliability of land mobile radio.
Read More →
Cellebrite Expands Exclusive SkySafe Partnership to Deliver Immediate Drone Detection and Airspace Intelligence for Digital Investigations at Scale
By integrating SkySafe's drone detection and airspace intelligence with Cellebrite's platform, agencies can connect real-time and historical UAV flight data with mobile forensic evidence, all in one place.
Read More →
New DroneShield Report Reveals Serious Gaps in Airport, Critical Infrastructure Counter-Drone Security
Survey results, as part of “Airspace Under Pressure: A Global Assessment of Counter-UAS Readiness Across Airports and Critical Infrastructure,” indicate that 60% of organizations say they lack legal authority to act against unauthorized drones.
Read More →
CHP to Accelerate Evidence Redaction & Public Records Fulfillment Through Veritone Redact
With Veritone Redact, the California Highway Patrol can redact video, audio, and image-based evidence, reducing time spent on evidence preparation and public record requests.
Read More →
Echodyne Expands Public Safety Radar Applications Through Partnership with Axon
Echodyne has partnered with Axon to support safer and more scalable drone operations across law enforcement, homeland security, and Drone as First Responder programs globally.
Read More →
Miami Police Department Deploys Airwayz’s Overwatch Platform During FIFA World Cup Events
The deployment of Airwayz’s Overwatch airspace management platform during the FIFA World Cup demonstrates the future of airspace infrastructure for managing, securing, and coordinating complex urban airspace environments.
Read More →
How Patrolfinder Uses Data to Make Streets Safer
Law enforcement agencies have long relied on instinct and routine to optimize patrols. Patrolfinder uses data to help agencies see where officers go — and where they don’t — to improve visibility and maximize coverage.
Read More →
Crime Prevention by Merging Tech with Human Intervention
Elite Interactive Solutions tackles crime prevention with technology and human intervention, working closely with local police to provide insights when a response is needed. The key is to blend the latest in remote video monitoring, artificial intelligence, and a well-trained agent with eyes on the scene.
Read More →
Case Study Details Integration of Body-Worn Cameras with CAD
The Billerica Police Department (Massachusetts) improved transparency and accountability, sharpened evidence management, and reduced manual hours by integrating Axis Communications body-worn cameras with its Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.
Read More →
ZeroEyes Public Safety Alerts Integrates Samdesk for Real-Time Risk Detection and Awareness
ZeroEyes has integrated Samdesk into its Public Safety Alerts platform to deliver faster, verified intelligence to help organizations understand emerging risks and respond quickly.
Read More →