AKRON , Ohio (WJW) – Swat Units are called in to handle the most dangerous situations. Those officers depend on their protective gear to stay safe, which is why it’s troubling to learn that the Akron Police Department’s SWAT unit has been working with counterfeit body armor.

“We became a part of a bigger investigation,” Akron Police Captain Agostino Micozzi said to Akron City Council. “We were notified by the Department of Homeland Security that the plates that we had were some of those plates that were found to be counterfeit and so as a result of that, we need to replace them.”

The Department of Homeland Security is investigating counterfeit body armor, imported from China, and sold to law enforcement agencies, according to a press release from October 19, 2023.

The armor in question does not meet the standard of the National Institute of Justice.

On May 6, Micozzi requested funding from Akron City Council to have those plates replaced.

“They’re a hard ceramic type plate,” he said. “And there’s one on the front and one on the back and one on each side, just from rifle rounds and more dangerous ordnance.”

Micozzi said there may be an opportunity to get restitution on the matter, but the unit needs new gear immediately.

Each set of plates cost $1,300 and 40 sets are required for the SWAT unit, totaling $52,000.

On Monday, City Council unanimously approved the request.

FOX 8 reached out to Akron Police for more detail on the phony protective gear, but the department is not willing to comment at this time.