The newest addition to traditional back-to-school supply lists? A bulletproof backpack

TOMS RIVER – Former Toms River police officer Kelly Conklin and his son, Kelly Jr., are in the business of protecting people.

That's why the deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, hit Conklin – founder and president of Superior Protection Professionals – particularly hard.

"We started the company to protect people, that was our sole purpose," Conklin said. "When all the school shootings and other shootings started happening, especially the one recently in Texas, I started thinking of ways to protect people, even when our guards can't be there."

That's when Conklin discovered bullet-resistant backpacks. The backpacks, which come in different colors, appear to be a normal book-carrying case, but are lined with sewn-in armor that Conklin said is capable of "stopping 95% of the gun rounds used in gun-related homicides."

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On June 17, Conklin and his son donated 20 of the backpacks to Toms River Regional schools.

""This is a tough topic to talk about, to be honest," Conklin said. "The reality is, accidents happen. The reality is, shootings happen. … It’s a very unfortunate thing. I have to think that way, as someone who provides security."

Michael Kenny, spokesman for Toms River Regional schools, said the district was grateful for the backpack donation from Conklin.

Conklin and his wife are both graduates of Toms River Regional schools, as are all four of their children.

"Superior Protection Professionals owner, local resident, and retired Toms River Police Department officer Kelly Conklin—along with his son, Kelly Conklin, Jr., vice president, have made an impactful gesture that will benefit our students, providing them specialty backpacks which will serve them well on the educational journey. We sincerely thank the Conklins and SPP for turning their commitment to our community into action, and for providing tangible resources to our students."

The armored backpacks, valued at around $150 each, will be given to students who are part of TR United, a group of students in grades 6 to 12 who have been identified as leaders by someone in their school, Kenny said.

Those students are working with the Toms River Police Department to promote positive mental health supports and leadership, to assist students in need at the elementary level, promote equitable opportunities and outcomes, and create a group of "change agents" who will have a positive impact on the future of the school district, he said.

Conklin said he also plans to sell the backpacks online, and noted that they can provide protection not only in local schools and universities, but on public transportation and in work settings as well.

The smaller backpack is under 2 pounds, while the larger model is under 3 pounds, he said.

The backpacks are effective against handgun rounds, Conklin said. But they would not protect against an AR-15, the weapon used by the Uvalde shooter. Testing conducted for NBC News Los Angeles in 2019 found the basic backpacks effective against handgun rounds, but ineffective against an AR-15.

To protect against an AR-15, rifle plates would need to be used, he said. Those are also available through his firm.

News outlets throughout the U.S. have reported an uptick in sales of bulletproof backpacks as parents express increased fears about school shootings.

A 2019 Morning Consult survey showed that 47 percent of people with children ages 17 and younger in their home said they were likely to consider buying these products specifically for their kids. That contrasts with 26 percent of the overall public, including those without children, who would consider buying a bulletproof backpack in general.

Conklin founded his security company in 2019 after 15 years as a police officer. The firm is licensed through the New Jersey State Police.

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For more information on the bullet-resistant backpacks, contact Conklin at 908-783-1939 or kpconklin209@gmail.com.

Jean Mikle covers Toms River and several other Ocean County towns, and has been writing about local government and politics at the Jersey Shore for nearly 38 years. She's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle,  jmikle@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Toms River NJ school gets bulletproof backpack donation