North Kingstown Police Get Some New Bullet Shields

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI — The North Kingstown Police Department increased its ballistic protection capabilities with the purchase of two new GC Patrol Shields from Graphene Composites USA, a Providence-based technology company.

Police said the GC Patrol Shields will provide officers with unrivalled protection that exceeds national rifle shield standards with their lightweight design and ability to stop multiple handgun and rifle rounds, including edge shots.

At just 21 pounds, the shields can quickly be combined to create a shield wall barricade for active shooter situations, evacuations and rescues. The shields also have panoramic lights to helo officers respond faster, police said.

"This is a gamechanger in protection for us," Police Chief Patrick Flanagan said in a statement. "The GC Patrol Shields are half the weight of the shields we currently use and are so much easier to deploy, increasing protection without compromising mobility and usability."