On the fifth anniversary of an NYPD tragedy, the department is working to make sure that its members are safe.

Detectives Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were killed five years ago in Bed-Stuy, and earlier this year Detective Brian Simonsen was killed in Queens.

The wife of Detective Brian Simonsen along with Police Commissioner Dermot Shea handed out new lightweight bulletproof vests to officers at the 102nd Precinct in Queens Thursday.

A total of 550 vests will be handed out to detectives across the city.

Back on Feb. 12, Simonsen along with other NYPD officers responded to an attempted robbery at a T Mobile store in Richmond Hill. When they arrived a suspect charged at them with an imitation pistol.

Police say officers fired 42 shots within 11 seconds. Ultimately Simonsen was killed by friendly fire. However, the NYPD says it underscored the necessity of these vests.

"The idea is that these vests are easier and quicker to put on for detectives wearing shirts and ties. They're easier than our standard-issue police vests which are primarily designed to go underneath a shirt and tie," said Shea.

The New York City Police Foundation and the Detectives Endowment Association played a key role. Both donated $550,000 to make the vests available to the NYPD.