Adam Cole wasn't easily impressed. But he was impressed on different levels when the delegation from the City of Davenport arrived at the DPD Police Academy to find members of the 3C company already there and unloading boxes from their SUV onto dollies.
From his research, he knew the very tall heavyset man was Paul Wright, the CEO of 3C. And he impressed to see the CEO was hands-on, helping to move boxes onto a dolly. He was also impressed to see an attractive brunette woman also unloading boxes.
Brodie led his group across the parking lot towards the 3C SUV. "Mr. Wright! I'm Mayor Brodie Lee. We're happy to see you and your group."
Wight shook the hand Brodie held out and smiled. "Mayor Lee, it's a pleasure, sir. This is the head of our Legal Department, Dante Martin. Our Chief Financial Officer, Layla Young. Our head of R&D, Dr. Cameron Grimes. And last, but not least, Cameron's assistant, Jack Perry."
"And this is District Attorney Adam Cole, City Financial Officer Robert Roode, Chief of Police Dean Malenko, and Fire Chief Ken Shamrock," Brodie introduced.
"If you'll follow me." Malenko led the way inside the Academy and to the firing range. Cole and Roode held the doors open for Wight, Grimes, and Martin who were pushing the dollies. Apparently, the 3C people didn't stand on ceremony to get things done.
Inside the firing range, Wight looked around appreciatively. "Very nice," he commented. He saw the dummies standing in a row along the far left wall. "Thanks for providing those. Of course, we'll replace them." He took a few steps closer to them as boxes were being opened then clapped his hands together one time. "Okay, let's get started. Male and female. Mix up the heights and weights. Two of each. Chief Malenko, if you would place them across the room. You pick the distance and angles."
As Malenko and Shamrock placed the dummies across the range, Cameron and Jack were pulling out vests and helmets. When Malenko and Shamrock returned, Wight pointed to the helmets. "Chief Malenko, if you'd examine them to confirm no modifications have been made to the required standard."
Malenko picked up one helmet and held it in both hands. "It's lighter." He turned it around and around, peering inside the helmet itself. "Other than that, I don't see any changes."
"It's lighter because of the material between the exterior and interior part of the helmet," Cameron explained. "And you'll see when you put the vests on the dummies, there are short sleeves which will help protect the underarm areas as well as flexible neck guards which can be worn open and then quickly fastened when necessary."
"Okay, suit up the dummies," Wight grinned then continued, "As a former cop, I can confirm the biggest gripes about the vests are first, they're heavy. By the end of your shift and depending on how much energy you've expended during that shift, you're tired just from wearing the vests. Your shoulders and back ache. And, depending on the energy you've expended, it's harder to breathe."
Malenko silently nodded as he watched Cameron and Jack put vests and helmets on the dummies.
"Second, they don't allow much freedom of movement from the waist to the shoulders," Wight continued. "You have to turn your entire upper body which, more often than not, takes your eyes away from your target because your neck only allows you to turn your head so far." He smiled when he saw Cole and Roode see how far they could turn their head without turning their upper body.
"On the positive side, they save lives," Wight concluded. "That's their purpose, and they do a good job of it." He nodded when Cameron and Jack rejoined them. "Captain Malenko, if you'll do the honors. Make your shots as lethal as you can from various differences and take your time."
Everyone put on goggles and ear plugs then, everyone except Malenko moved behind the safety line. Malenko walked towards the eight dummies, and then began firing from various distances, always aiming for vital areas. His final shot was in the back of a helmet and then holstered his weapon.
Everyone removed the protective gear and walked towards the dummies. Malenko and Shamrock stood them up for examination.
"As you can see, the shots fired at a distance did no damage to the dummy," Cameron pointed out. "The dummies were knocked down, but they were in position to return fire or try to get to safety. The dummies who took the shots in the helmets were probably going to have one hell of a headache. But from what our volunteers have reported, nothing more than that. Not a single concussion."
Cole and Roode exchanged glances. "I'm impressed," Roode muttered.
Brodie slowly rubbed his bearded chin, apparently deep in thought as they moved on to the dummies who'd taken close-range shots.
Malenko examined the vests then looked at Brodie. "None of the bullets penetrated the vests."
"Some of our volunteers had bruised, cracked, or broken ribs," Cameron advised. "But nothing life-threatening." He grinned at Jack. "And we're working to fix that."
"Helmets damaged," Malenko reported. "But none penetrated." He held up the one that had taken a point-blank shot to the back of the helmet. "Not even this one."
"That would have been a moderate to severe concussion," Cameron admitted.
"How is that possible?" Brodie asked.
"God bless NASA," Wight chuckled. "Through their research into their specific needs, the rest of us can benefit. Basically, the vests have a barrier of our patented material between the inner and outer layers of the vest. Same for the helmets. We've invested years and a lot of money into fine-tuning the insulation NASA uses in their spacesuits. The material not only prevents a bullet from penetrating but absorbs the shock of the bullet as well then distributes it throughout the material."
"The person taking the bullet will experience the shock waves as we call them," Cameron continued. "Depending on the range and caliber of the bullet, those effects can be minimal or wide-spread."
"Define minimal," Malenko demanded.
Cameron shrugged. "Running into a door with your shoulder, for instance. Your shoulder takes the immediate blow, but you'll feel it across your shoulder, possibly to your neck, and down your arm."
"Closer range and larger caliber equals more widely spread shock waves," Brodie mused.
"Exactly!" Cameron nodded.
"Any helmets or vests that take damage can be returned to use and replaced at no cost," Wight added. "We can use them in the research to improve the product." He took the helmet from Malenko. "Now we show the really impressive demonstration."
"There's more?" Cole muttered to Roode.
Shamrock and Malenko pulled the vests and helmets from the dummies and returned them to the boxes where Layla and Dante repacked them. Cameron and Jack redressed the dummies.
"Captain Malenko, could you please verify the vests and helmets are the same as the previous ones?" Wight asked as he set a small box on top of a now closed and sealed box.
"They are," Malenko reported in a few minutes as he rejoined them.
"What was the gun you used?"
"Glock 9mm," Malenko answered.
Wight nodded and removed a chain from around his neck. Attached to the chain was a key. "You'll notice the double locks on this box. For reasons you'll understand, this box contains a gun and ammo that require two keys to open. I have one. For security reasons, the second key is only issued for field demonstration purposes. The holder of the second key is randomly chosen by computer from the demonstration group. And I don't ever know who that person is until we open the box. The last two times, it's been Cameron." He chuckled and looked at his group. "So, who drew the short straw this time?"
Dante smirked and pulled out his wallet. From an interior pocket in the wallet, he produced a key. Both he and Wight inserted their keys and unlocked the box. Dante replaced his key in his wallet, while Wight put the chain around his neck. Sighing, Wight opened the box.
"Cop Killers," Malenko snarled when he saw the bullets.
Wight nodded. "They'll penetrate the vests and helmets currently in use. With our vests and helmets, we've had a 90% success rate." He met Malenko's dark eyes. "Our goal is 100% success."
"Reasons for failure?" Malenko's voice was clipped.
"Multiple near simultaneous shots in the same immediate vicinity of the body," Wight explained. "Chief Shamrock, can you assist Cameron in suiting up the new dummies? I'm sure Captain Malenko would prefer to oversee the loading of the gun with these bullets."
"Excuse me," Jack quietly spoke, then walked towards the door.
"Is he in need of some help?" Brodie solicitously asked.
"His father was my partner in the San Francisco PD since before Jack was born," Wight carefully explained as he began loading the gun. "Then I got bumped up to Administrative Captain of the SWAT department. Jack's father was the Field Captain. We got a call about a take-over of the Bank of America." He glanced at Malenko. "One of those 'all hands on deck' calls. Turns out it wasn't one of your average bank holdup. These guys were part of a domestic terrorist group…complete with a manifesto."
Malenko nodded. "I remember that. I was in the FBI and posted to Seattle at the time it happened."
Wight finished loading the gun and set it down. "They came out with guns blasting," he continued, glancing at the door Jack has used to leave the room. "They were using Cop Killers. Seven cops were killed on the spot…including Jack's father. Three more died within the next 24 hours." He glanced towards the closed door and sighed. "Jack was a sophomore in high school when it happened. A high school that was across the street from the bank. He ran out of the high school and slipped through our lines. I saw him and stopped him from going any further. But he'd already seen his father's body."
"Jesus Christ," Cole muttered under his breath.
"When he graduated high school, I'd taken my father's place at 3C. But he flew to Seattle, came to my office, and said he wanted to work with us. I convinced him to go to college first." Wight suddenly grinned. "Jack's a smart kid and figured a way to start working with us and not spend four years in college. He took only the classes he thought he would need. Chemistry. Mathematics. Engineering. He didn't care about graduating. So, two years later, he's back in my office and said 'I'm done with school. Where's my workspace?'
Cameron and Shamrock rejoined them in time to hear Wight's comment. Cameron snickered. "Little brat walked into the lab like he owned it, took over a desk and computer, and started working." He pointed at Wight. "He just stood there and shrugged his shoulders at me."
Layla laughed out loud and Martin smirked at Wight.
"Your lab's out of my area of expertise," Wight commented with a grin and wave of his hand.
"Kid's been an asset," Cameron nodded. "Come up with some good ideas, but his focus has been on improving protective equipment."
Wight sighed. "He won't be back until after the test is finished. Captain Malenko?" He waved towards the gun. "There are only four bullets. Make them count."
Grimly, Malenko put on his protective glasses and earplugs then walked towards the dummies. The others donned their protective glasses and earplugs and hurriedly walked to behind the safety line.
Malenko aimed and fired. First shot to the heart. Second shot to the back of the head. Third shot between the shoulder blades. Fourth shot to the throat. Then he walked back and silently handed the gun to Wight.
"Layla, get Jack," Wight softly spoke as he put the gun back in the box. He and Dante used their keys to lock it. "Let's see the damage."
Cameron and Malenko carefully looked at the dummies then Cameron pointed. "First one, no penetration of the vest. Wearer probably suffered cracked or broken ribs. Probable jolt to the heart at this range. Good chance of survival if he's evac'ed quickly. Second one, no penetration to the helmet although it's probably damaged beyond repair. Wearer's gonna have one hell of a headache if not a concussion. Third one, no penetration of the vest. Probably cracked or broken ribs. A little lower and shock waves would affect the kidneys. Fourth one, no penetration of the vest. The wearer's gonna have problems with his throat through severe bruising. Most likely need field medical attention to combat any breathing problems that may occur. Wearer may or may not have to quit field work."
"With standard vests, they'd all be dead?" Cole quietly asked.
"For sure," Cameron grimly nodded.
'We're screwed. There's no way we can afford this.' Cole saw the look passed between Malenko and Brodie and realized they were thinking the same thing.
The door opened allowing Layla and Jack to return. The sharp-eyed among them noted Layla's resigned expression and the fists Jack was clenching and unclenching.
"I know you wanted to see a demonstration of our new GPS system," Wight spoke up. "However, I think that demonstration will be more effective when it's combined with the demonstration at the Fire Dept. Academy. So, I suggest we take a break. We'll pack up this stuff and load it into the SUV We can meet up in…say an hour at the Fire Dept. Academy?"
Brodie nodded. "We'll see you there." He shook Wight's hand and led his people out of the PD Academy. They paused at the mayor's limousine and stared at each other.
"Robert, can you provide us with a reasonably accurate estimate of what the new insurance premiums are going to be and compare it to the budget for equipment?" Brodie asked. "The difference between the two will be our worst-case scenario in what we can afford to spend."
No one standing there believed that number would be enough.