What are Speed Plates?

What are these “Speed Plates” that are popping up in all the LEO blogs and in body armor discussions?

Simply put they are smaller rifle round defeating (Level III and Level IV) insert that are placed in an interior pocked over your heart. Worn under your normal sized Level III or Level IV plates of 10″ x 12″ or 11″ x 14″, these plates are usually 9″ x 6″ and fit in the specially designed pocket on the interior of your plate carrier to give you an extra level of protection against a round penetrating your armor and hitting the most vital organ in your core and the dispersed energy from said round. to mitigate transfered energy. 

Since this is an additional plate  it’s weight and balance in your carrier needs to be taken into account and adjusted for in your muscle memory as to stance and shooting position. Be safe out there, look for the edge in every encounter.