The NYPD has begun installing bullet-resistant windows in its police vehicles.
While 151 department vehicles have already been retrofitted with the anti-ballistic glass, the mobile command vehicles — like the one Officer Miosotis Familia was sitting in when she was fatally shot in the Bronx — are not expected to get the upgrade, police sources said. A deranged gunman fired through the window of the vehicle about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Putting the safety glass in squad cars responding to calls is the department’s top priority.
So far, the retrofitted cars make up less than 2% of the 9,903 vehicles in the NYPD’s entire fleet, which includes everything from squad cars to trucks and support vehicles.
An additional 2,200 NYPD vehicles — about 23% of the fleet — have ballistic panels attached to the exteriors doors for protection against gunfire.
The NYPD received its first shipment of 500 pairs of bullet-resistant windows two weeks ago.
“The department continues to focus on outfitting those vehicles used for enforcement with additional ballistic protection,” said Lt. John Grimpel, a police spokesman. “The department is continuing to retrofit additional vehicles as the equipment becomes available.”
The plan to armor police vehicles started under Police Commissioner Bill Bratton in August 2016 following the murder of Officer Brian Moore, who was shot to death sitting behind the wheel of his squad car during a traffic stop on May 2, 2015.
The doors of 60 police vehicles were retrofitted with the ballistic panels during a pilot program.
It was quickly expanded after cops gave a thumbs up to the safety measures during a survey in September.