Police Officer Invents Patented Vest to Save Lives of Police and Others Working at Night

A Cincinnati area police officer has changed the way U.S. law enforcement and other night-time workers are seen in darkness by developing a patented, highly lit safety vest. His goal: to ensure that no more officers are struck by vehicles due to blurred visibility.

Police Officer Don Campbell received a patent for his Lit Safety Vest. It is now used by law enforcement in nine states.

A tinkerer at heart, Campbell, 56, hunkered down in his basement and worked with a variety of materials and batteries. He knew red and blue were off limits since they blended with cruiser lights. Using the purest bright white LED strips on the market, Campbell found the answer: a lit, extremely bright and rechargeable LED vest. It glows for 12 hours through porous fabric through which the strips placed inside the garment project a bright green glow through the small holes. The battery is easily rechargeable and a switch can control the amount of light projected through the vest. It is short enough for officers to easily reach for their side arms and equipment on their belts. Best of all, the Lit Vest illuminates the wearer's face, distinguishing the presence of an individual apart from any nearby vehicles or competing lights.