Best of 2003: Best Bullet- Resistant Equipment

California Police Equipment Company
4151 El Cajon Boulevard, City Heights
www.californiapoliceequipment.com
619-280-1199

The miracle of Kevlar means that over the last three or four years, cops, military personnel, and even journalists have been able to go in harm's way wearing a three-pound jacket that's so tightly woven it'll stop handgun bullets. The spinning projectile (bullets have to spin to travel straight) tangles up in the Kevlar. Before, you had to wear thirty pounds of "body armor." A Kevlar body armor jacket starts at $380. But sales are restricted. You have to show you're a cop, in the military, or in security. Open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Until 5 p.m. on Saturday. Closed Sunday.