It's the scariest feeling in the world having a loaded gun pointed at you.

But that's what Corporal Chris Young with the Oak Hill Police Department faced during a traffic stop.

Thankfully, his bulletproof vest saved his life.

During defensive tactics training, the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department showed us how a vest absorbs a gunshot.

Lieutenant Bryan Stover said, "The trauma plate took the penetration of both bullets and didn't allow it to go through and penetrate the front panel. This is actually a hard trauma plate which is a steel ceramic type product."

Stover said although the vests radiate the impact of a bullet from a concentrated spot, it doesn't mean it's not going to hurt.

Stover said, "I've never been shot, but it's probably something like getting hit right in the chest with a sledgehammer."

But that's not all the training the deputies go through.

They fight simulated attackers for one minute, run, load their weapon, and fire at still targets.

Sergeant Eric Drennan said, "When you're out on the street people aren't going to fight fair, and that's like what we're doing today."

"It's a hard drill," agreed Corporal L.A. Grace, "It's meant to be, because that's what it's gonna be out here on the street."

They make sure they utilize all their gear, and today they have even more motivation to do so.

"Thank God the young officer this morning was wearing his vest. We continue to preach and hope everybody wears their vest to save a life." said Stover.

Stover said violence against law enforcement is on the rise.

Last year in March there were four Oakland, California officers shot to death. In April there were three in Pittsburgh and two in Okaloosa County, Florida. In July, there were two killed in Seminole County, Florida. And in Novemeber, four officers were shot to death in a coffee shop before they went on patrol in Lakewood, Washington .

Altogether, 15 officers killed in five shootings. The most since 1981.