Switzerland. Geneva. Paquis neighborhood. A police officer holding a flashlight in his hands waits for a man to open the door of his flat. The policeman is wearing under his polo shirt a ballistic vest, bulletproof vest or bullet-resistant vest which is an item of personal armor that helps absorb the impact from knives, firearm-fired projectiles and shrapnel from explosions, and is worn on the torso. Soft vests are made from many layers of woven or laminated fibers and can be capable of protecting the wearer from small-caliber handgun and shotgun projectiles. 06.05.12 © 2012 Didier Ruef..