Why Did Van Hauser Keep Saying "They Cut My Vest"

He was in shock so I guess he was trying to focus on something other than the knife in his head. Or he was delusional and not really knowing what he was saying, probably had brain damage.

Sounded to me like he was in shock (literally and figuratively) and mostly disgust/embarassment that a criminal basically disrespected him and ran roughshot over him with nothing he could do to stop it.

The way he said those words sounded like he had lost his manhood and pride in a way.

Because the EMTs/Paramedics couldn't slip his vest off over his head due to the knife protruding from his head, so they had to cut it off. This is SOP for EMS, pretty much.

The department would have deducted replacement cost for the vest from his next salary check, hana

It’s a bit complicated, but if you have ever lived in a State that has a good amount of biker gangs, the unwritten rule that even all EMT’s know about is that if they ever come across an injured gang member who is wearing their “colors”, “jacket”, and especially with the bikers, their “cuts” that’s the leather membership vests you see them wearing. A strong symbol of their brotherhood and what they stand for, once it is cut and damaged, it’s considered an insult. As to the police and their traditions I’m not positive but I’m guessing it must have something to do with that. Again, I’m not a professional and in all reality it is whatever was going through that characters mind, but it’s not a bad theory in my opinion.