Police in New York City are being equipped with body armor in response to the nation's spate of mass shootings.
The NYPD announced on Monday that patrol officers will soon begin carrying military-style helmets and vests in their cars. It said the officers will wear the extra protection if they become first-responders to mass shootings.
The country's largest police department has adopted the strategy of having ordinary officers seek to confront shooters to try to end bloodshed as quickly as possible. In the past, police had been trained to establish a perimeter and wait for heavily armed tactical units to arrive.
In a statement, the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association said the armor isn't enough. The union said officers would need high-powered rifles to keep from being outgunned.
