Ballistic shield

[1] Shields small enough to be carried by a single person may be termed "personal shields", and may be carried in police cars in the United States as standard equipment.

It may be the policy of a police force to use shields only in defensive situations, such as establishing a perimeter and waiting for reinforcements, while others may permit their usage in offensive situations, such as high risk traffic stops or approaching a suspect deemed to be dangerous.

[2] Recommended features of ballistic shields for police include a carrying system that allows it to be held long-term without fatigue, and the ability to both reload a handgun while holding the shield and also fire it accurately with one hand.

[2] Ballistic shields are similar to body armor plates in their construction, and are typically made out of fibre-reinforced plastic composites derived from ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene or aramid.

They may have features such as bulletproof glass windows, ambidextrous handles, and spotlights for use at night, and may be either hand-held or mounted on wheeled frames.