Looking Beyond the Viewport: Changing the Culture of the Dynamic Ballistic Shield

This session will focus on the underuse of ballistic shields and training deficiencies in law enforcement—particularly within patrol, investigative, and tactical team environments. This informative discussion draws on the experiences of two full-time ballistic shield SWAT operators, Cipolla and Lee, who have developed a structured, progressive training curriculum now widely taught across Illinois. The presentation will address common pitfalls agencies face when selecting and purchasing ballistic shields to meet operational needs. It will also highlight key findings from teaching ballistic shield tactics statewide, emphasizing how agencies often acquire equipment that fails to meet the specific requirements of their officers or tactical teams.