Bulletproof Vests Could Become Firefighter Gear After 2 Shootings

LARGO, MD — The death of a firefighter shot by a disoriented resident whom rescuers were trying to check on has prompted the Prince George’s County Fire Department to start shopping — for bulletproof vests.

On Monday, a vendor pitched types of ballistic vests to Fire Chief Marc Bashoor, who wants to make such vests part of the standard equipment for county fire crews.

The move comes in response to the death of one firefighter and wounding of another when they responded to a call last month to check on a diabetic man who wasn’t responding to family members. But, the resident reportedly thought his home was being broken into when he shot the pair of firefighters and a relative trying to check on his welfare.

Firefighter/paramedic John “Skillet” Ulmschneider, 37, died April 15, and Morningside Volunteer firefighter Kevin Swain, 19, was shot four times during a welfare check that went wrong in Temple Hills.

“It’s kind of a sad commentary,” Chief Bashoor said of the plan to outfit fire and EMS crews with bulletproof vests, reports WTOP. “After the situation with Firefighters Ulmschneider and Swain taking bullets — even though they were just in the normal execution of their duty — it’s just the point we’re at now.”

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The fire chief tweeted photos of possible vests, with him trying one of the protective pieces, with the comment, “Never thought you'd see me wearing 1 of these. Receiving ballistic protection briefing for PGFD deployment.”

Of concern to the department is how heavy the vests will be. Firefighters typically carry 75 pounds of gear on their backs, so adding a 5-pound vest could increase firefighter fatigue.

Bashoor said officials will talk with paramedics, volunteers and members of the firefighter’s union about how best to use and deploy vests.

Another consideration is the cost, the department has bout 900 paid firefighters and 1,500 volunteers. To save money, Bashoor told WTOP the department could assign vests to firetrucks and ambulances so each crew can wear them, rather than buying a vest for every firefighter/EMT.

»Photo of Prince George’s County Fire Chief Marc Bashoor trying on bulletproof vest, via Twitter