by David Crane
defrev at gmail.com
October, 15, 2007
On August 29, 2007, DefenseReview published an article on U.S.T.L. (United States Test Laboratory), an NIJ-certified lab, validating Pinnacle Armor’s 6-year warranty for Dragon Skin SOV-2000 Level III, per NIJ’s requirements. Pinnacle’s SOV-2000 Dragon Skin passed the U.S.T.L. test, and proved that it will hold up and maintain it’s ability to repel NIJ Level III ballistic threats for the full six (6) years. Proved it.
However, according to a Sept. 10, 2007 KSEE 24 News (Fresno, CA) article, the fact that Dragon Skin passed the NIJ warranty requirements doesn’t seem to matter to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), at least not enough for…
NIJ to lift it’s August 3, 2007 de-certification of Dragon Skin over this warranty issue. Understand that Dragon Skin passed the USTL test on August 20, 2007, and as of today (10/15/07), to our knowledge, the NIJ de-certification still stands.
The primary question we would have for the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), is what (or who) drove them to take this seemingly unprecedented action against Pinnacle Armor? NIJ’s actions (de-certification) and subsequent inaction (not re-certifying it) rasie a lot of questions, and have caused a number of DefenseReview’s professional contacts to question NIJ’s integrity, and ask whether or not NIJ has been influenced and ultimately corrupted by the U.S. military. The contacts we mention have no particular dog in this hunt, other than to see our military and law enforcement personnel receive the best anti-rifle body armor available. Just to be clear, DefenseReview is not accusing NIJ of corruption. However, we, along with other professionals we know, have some serious questions for them, and are no longer confident they (NIJ) operate fairly. We (DefenseReview) believe that this situation calls NIJ’s reputation into question. We hope that they’re not acting as DoD’s (and U.S. Army’s) puppet on this thing. We really hope not.
Deparment of Justice Office of Justice Programs (DOJ OJP) / National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Contact Info:
Contact: Sheila Jerusalem
Office of Justice Programs
National Institute of Justice
810 Seventh St., NW
Washington, DC 20531
Phone: (202) 307-0703
TTY: (202) 514-1888
Website: www.ojp.usdoj.gov
Related Articles:
Why the U.S. Army Acquisition Mafia Fears Side-By-Side Body Armor Testing
Dragon Skin Passes Again: NIJ-Certified Lab Test Validates 6-Year Warranty.
More Washington Corruption: DOJ Joins Efforts To Kill Dragon Skin
Pinnacle Armor Level IV Dragon Skin Passes ESAPI-FAT Test at Aberdeen