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December 23, 2022: – A Franklin County, Indiana, deputy sheriff is recovering after being shot early Friday morning. Shortly after midnight, the deputy was called to respond to a report of a man walking along a rural state road holding a small child. As the deputy approached the man and began speaking with him, the man pulled out a handgun and shot the deputy once in the chest, striking his ballistic-resistant vest. The deputy returned fire, hitting the man. The small child was unharmed during the exchange of gunfire.
The injured officer was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released. The man who shot the deputy was also transported to the hospital, where his condition is reported as “grave.” Shortly after the first incident, deputies were called to a second crime scene nearby, where they found a woman injured at the residence, believed to be shot. She was taken to the hospital. Her injuries are unknown. Officials believe the two scenes are connected but the investigation is still in its initial stages. Read more about this incident here.

December 16, 2022: – A Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) police officer is recovering after being shot early Friday morning. At approximately 3:30 a.m., Uintah County (Utah) deputies and BIA officers were called to respond to a fight at a motel in Ballard. On arrival, officers encountered a man who opened fire on them, striking the BIA officer in his ballistic-resistant vest. Officers returned fire, striking the man multiple times. Officers rendered medical aid to the man at the scene, and he was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died from his injuries. The BIA officer was treated and released from the hospital. The investigation into the incident, which is being led by the Utah State Bureau of Investigations, is ongoing. Read more about this incident here.

December 14, 2022: – A Waukesha, Wisconsin police officer was shot Wednesday afternoon. At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Waukesha Police responded to a report by a landlord that one of his female tenants was acting erratically. On arrival, officers located a female in the basement of the home, who fired a handgun at officers without warning, striking one of the officers in the chest. Officers returned fire, striking the woman, who died at the scene from her injuries.
The injured officer, wearing a ballistic-resistant vest, was struck in both the vest and his body-worn camera. He and another officer, who also sustained minor non-gunshot related injuries, were transported to a local hospital, where they were treated and released. At a press conference, Waukesha Police Captain Dan Baumann stated, "If that officer was not wearing his ballistic [vest], the round would have most likely struck him somewhere in his upper chest, which is one of the vital organs, and we potentially could have had a different story," The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Read more about this incident here.

December 12, 2022: – A San Diego, California police officer is recovering after being shot early Monday morning. At approximately 12:30 a.m., San Diego officers attempted a traffic stop on a stolen vehicle. The operator of the stolen vehicle led officers on a brief pursuit, which officers discontinued due to safety concerns, and continued to track the vehicle via police helicopter. The operator of the stolen vehicle abandoned the vehicle near an apartment complex, and officers initiated a foot pursuit of the suspect. During the foot pursuit, the suspect produced a handgun and shot one of the pursuing officers, striking him multiple times. While officers provided medical aid to the fallen officer, the suspect barricaded himself in an abandoned townhouse, resulting in a several hours long standoff. Officers later observed the suspect unconscious inside the townhouse. SWAT and K9 officers entered the house, finding the suspect displaying signs of an overdose. Medics administered aid, reviving the suspect, and transported him to a local hospital for further treatment. The injured officer was also transported to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery for his injuries. According to San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit, the officer was shot in his ballistic-resistant vest, “which likely saved his life.” The officer is currently in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery. Read more about this incident here.

October 25, 2022: – Two Chesterfield County, Virginia, police officers are recovering after being shot Tuesday evening. Shortly after 6:00 p.m. Tuesday evening, Chesterfield County officers responded to a call for a man “experiencing emotional distress”. While one officer was speaking with family members, another officer was speaking with the individual in emotional distress. At some point, a struggle ensued between the man and the officer, and the man tried to take the officer’s firearm. The man shot the officer in the chest, but the round was stopped by the officer’s ballistic-resistant vest. Hearing the gunfire, the other officer ran to help the injured officer, and he was shot in the leg by the assailant. In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, the assailant was wounded by police and taken into custody. The injured assailant and both officers were transported to a local hospital for treatment, where they have all been treated and released. The assailant is being held in a local jail without bond and is facing multiple charges, including two counts of aggravated attempted murder and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Read more about this incident here.

October 12, 2022: – A Polk County, Florida, Sheriff's Deputy is recovering after being shot while responding to a domestic disturbance Wednesday evening. At approximately 10:00 p.m. Wednesday evening, Polk County deputies were called to respond to a domestic disturbance. An individual had made threatening statements to one of the residents via telephone, then told them not to call police, “as it will not end well”. A brief time later, he came to the residence and began knocking on the doors and windows and called the resident again, telling her that “the cops will have to kill me in front of the house”, but fled prior to police arrival. As the police were speaking with the resident, the individual returned in his vehicle. As he got out of his vehicle and deputies approached him, he kept his hands behind his back, despite the deputies' instructions to show his hands. As one deputy deployed her Taser, the individual pointed a pistol at the deputies and opened fire, striking the other deputy in the chest, which was stopped by the ballistic-resistant vest he was wearing. The deputies exchanged gunfire with the suspect, but no further rounds struck the deputies or the suspect. The suspect then dropped his weapon and surrendered to police. The suspect later told investigators after his arrest that when he learned that police had responded to the residence, that he returned because he “wanted to commit second-hand suicide” by having the police shoot him. According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, “I am very happy to report that [the deputy who was shot] was released from the hospital this morning. He is sore, but recuperating. Domestic violence calls are among the most dangerous our deputies respond to. [The suspect] asked for us to kill him and we would have fulfilled his request if [the deputy’s] gun didn't jam. We will be holding [the suspect] accountable for his depraved violence against our deputies." The suspect is facing multiple felony charges, including two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer and firearms violations. Read more about this incident here.

October 12, 2022: – Three Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, police officers are recovering after being shot while attempting to serve an arrest warrant on Wednesday morning. At approximately 6:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, a team of Philadelphia SWAT officers were attempting to serve an arrest warrant on an individual wanted on homicide charges. The suspect opened fire on police, striking three officers – one in his leg, the second in his hip, and the third officer was struck in the chest, but the round was stopped by his ballistic-resistant vest. However, the round ricocheted off his vest and struck the officer in the upper chest area, leaving a “serious contusion”, but did not penetrate the officer. In the exchange of gunfire between the suspect and police, the suspect was shot and killed. The wounded officers were transported to a local hospital, where the officers shot in the hip and chest were treated for their injuries and released. The officer who was shot in the leg is being kept for overnight observation. Read more about this incident here.

October 2, 2022: – A Jacksonville, Florida police officer is recovering after being shot during a response to a burglary on Sunday evening. At approximately 10:50 p.m., Jacksonville officers responded to a reported burglary in progress. Upon arrival, the officers were ambushed by an armed assailant who opened fire, striking one of the officers in the back. The officers returned fire, but in the hours afterward, it was not clear if the suspect had been hit. He then fled the scene in a car he stole from the property, resulting in a 20-mile pursuit. The pursuit ended when the man crashed the vehicle into a median barrier on the Dames Point Bridge. He then ran out of the vehicle and jumped off the bridge into the river below. Officers spotted the man trying to swim away, but lost sight of him in the darkness. A Search and Rescue team found the body of a deceased male, believed to be the assailant, and a handgun from the river several hours later. The injured officer, who was shot in the back, was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released. According to a statement made by Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Chief Brian Kee at a press conference, the officer was wearing a department-issued ballistic-resistant vest, which “may have saved his life.” Read more about this incident here.

October 1, 2022: – A Seminole, Texas, police officer is recovering after being shot during a traffic stop on Saturday morning. At approximately 10:15 a.m., the officer stopped a vehicle for several traffic violations, including spinning tires, excessive acceleration, and speeding. As the officer approached the vehicle, the operator turned and opened fire on the officer. The officer was struck in the lower rib area as he tried to seek cover and return fire. The suspect fled the scene on foot but was captured by officers shortly thereafter.
The injured officer was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released. According to Seminole Police Chief Bernie Kraft, the officer was wearing a ballistic-resistant vest, which stopped the bullet and prevented more severe injury. The suspect is being detained in a local jail, where multiple charges, including attempted capital murder, evading police, and possession of a controlled substance, have been filed. Read more about this incident here.

September 29, 2022: – A Topeka, KS, police officer was shot Thursday morning during an exchange of gunfire at the conclusion of a vehicle pursuit between police and a person suspected of being involved in an earlier homicide. At approximately 9:30 am, Topeka officers responded to a reported double shooting. Upon arrival, police found one victim deceased at the scene and another seriously wounded. A person of interest and the description of the vehicle he was operating was identified through the police investigation. At approximately 10:45 am, Topeka officers observed a vehicle matching the description operating in a different part of the city. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, it fled at a high rate of speed. During the pursuit, a local sheriffs agency joined the pursuit, and the driver of the suspect vehicle fired at police vehicles several times. When police were finally able to stop the vehicle, the operator opened fire on the officers, striking one officer in the chest. According to Topeka Police Chief Brian Wheeles, the officer was wearing body armor, “took the majority of the impact of the round” and prevented the officer from being injured more seriously.
The suspect and the occupant of his vehicle were both struck by rounds fired by police. They, and the wounded officer, were transported to a local hospital, where the officer was treated and released. The suspect and his passenger remain in the hospital under police custody, pending completion of the investigation and pending charges related to both incidents. Read more about this incident here.

September 19, 2022: – A Borger, TX, police officer was shot Monday evening during a response to a domestic disturbance. At approximately 5:30 pm, Borger PD officers responded to a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, officers contacted the 38-year-old suspect, who was armed and using a family member as a human shield. The suspect opened fire on the officers, striking one twice, once in the arm and another that impacted his ballistic resistant vest. Officers returned fire and were able to apprehend the suspect without injury.
The wounded officer was airlifted to an Amarillo hospital for treatment. According to a social media post by Borger PD, “Thankfully, the officer was wearing his department-issued body armor and his vest absorbed most of the impact.” The post also indicated that the officer had been treated at the hospital for his injuries and released. The suspect is facing multiple charges, including aggravated assault against a peace officer and aggravated assault against a family member. Read more about this incident here.

July 10, 2022:- A Louisville, Kentucky, police officer is recovering after being shot on Sunday evening. At approximately 8 pm, Louisville officers located an individual wanted on multiple felony arrest warrants at an outdoor basketball tournament. As the officers approached the individual, he began to flee on foot. He then pulled a handgun from his clothing and shot one of the pursuing officers in the chest, striking his bullet-resistant vest. In the exchange of gunfire between the suspect and police, the suspect was wounded. He was transported to a local hospital, where he remains in stable condition, according to police. In addition to the outstanding warrants, upon his release, he will be charged with attempted murder of a police officer, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and first-degree fleeing or evading, along with receiving stolen property and restricted ammunition, Louisville Police Department spokesperson Beth Ruoff said.
The wounded officer was also transported to a nearby hospital and was treated and released. Louisville Police Chief Erika Shields stated during a press conference on Monday that the officer “was very fortunate” to be wearing a ballistic-resistant vest, as the round that was stopped by the vest would have likely resulted in a fatal injury had the officer not been wearing the vest. Read more about this incident here.

June 25, 2022: - A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania police officer was shot Saturday morning. At approximately 5:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, Pittsburgh Police responded to a report of a woman who had been shot in the leg. On arrival, officers engaged in a foot pursuit with a male suspect who fled the scene as police arrived. A brief time later and several blocks away, another officer on foot patrol observed a male matching the description of the fleeing suspect walking near a church. As the officer approached the male subject, the subject pulled out what was later determined to be a homemade firearm and shot the officer, who was wearing a ballistic-resistant vest, in the chest. The officer was able to take the individual into custody without further incident.
Both the officer and the suspect, who was found to have a gunshot injury to his shoulder that investigation determined occurred during an exchange of gunfire during the original shooting incident prior to police arrival, were transported to a local hospital for treatment. The officer was treated for minor injuries and released, and the suspect is in stable condition and expected to survive. During a news conference, Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert stated “We are grateful that our officer is out of the hospital and doing well following this traumatic experience. There is no question that his ballistic vest saved his life.” The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Read more about this incident here.

May 4, 2022: - A Houston, Texas, police officer is recovering after being shot on Wednesday morning. According to Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, at 11:20 am, two Houston officers pulled over a truck at a southeast Houston gas station, as the operator of the truck was the focus of a multi-agency drug investigation and officers had a warrant for his arrest. The officers instructed the operator of the truck to get out of the vehicle, and as he did, he immediately opened fire on the officers. One officer was shot and wounded in his pelvic area. Additionally, Chief Finner stated the officer was also shot in the chest, but his ballistic-resistant vest and a flashlight stopped the round, resulting in a minor injury. The second officer was not injured. In the exchange of gunfire between the suspect and police, the suspect was wounded. He was transported to a local hospital, where he remains in serious condition, according to police.
The wounded officer was also transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, but Chief Finner stated during his press conference that the officer "will be fine". Read more about this incident here.

April 7, 2022:- Two Benton Harbor, Michigan, police officers are recovering after being shot on Thursday night. At approximately 11:15 pm, the officers located a 32-year-old individual wanted on two outstanding felony warrants and an unserved personal protection order. This individual had previously evaded arrest when approached by officers and had posted to his social media accounts boasting about evading police and having firearms with multiple extended magazines. As the officers approached, the individual opened fire on the officers, striking the first officer once in his ballistic-resistant vest and once in his leg. The second officer was struck three times, twice in his ballistic-resistant vest and once in his leg. In the exchange of gunfire between the suspect and police, he was struck multiple times and died at the scene from his injuries.
The two officers were transported to a nearby hospital, where the first officer remains under observation after having surgery to repair the wound to his leg. The second officer, whose leg injury was described by police during a press conference as "more superficial," was treated and released. Read more about this incident here.

March 29, 2022: - A Buffalo, New York, police officer is recovering after being shot in his ballistic-resistant vest on Tuesday evening. Shortly after 6 pm, Buffalo Police were investigating a suspicious vehicle parked in a waterfront parking lot. After a brief encounter with the operator of the vehicle, who provided officers with his identification, the operator quickly pulled away, leading police on a lengthy pursuit across the city. At three separate locations during the pursuit, upon encountering law enforcement vehicles, the occupant of the fleeing vehicle fired upon officers in their patrol vehicles. One officer was shot in the lower abdomen; another officer was shot in the chest, with the round being stopped by his ballistic-resistant vest; and the third officer was shot in his left bicep and ear. The fleeing vehicle was eventually stopped by a police roadblock and after an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and police, the suspect was apprehended. The suspect suffered what are described as “non-life-threatening gunshot injuries” and was transported to a local hospital, where he remains for treatment. Multiple charges, including attempted murder of a police officer, are pending.
The injured officers were also transported to a nearby hospital. The officer who was shot in the abdomen remains hospitalized for treatment, and the other two officers were treated and released. A total of nine police vehicles were damaged by gunfire during the pursuit and apprehension of the suspect. Read more about this incident here.

March 13, 2022: – A Bastrop County, Texas, sheriff’s deputy is recovering at a local hospital after being shot three times, twice in his ballistic-resistant vest, on Sunday evening. At approximately 10:30 pm, the deputy located a pickup truck at a convenience store that matched the description of a truck reported to have left the scene of a criminal mischief complaint nearby. A check of the truck’s license plate revealed the owner of the truck was wanted on a parole violation for a burglary. As the deputy approached the truck, the occupant of the truck turned and fired three shots from the driver’s door window at the deputy, striking the deputy once in the forearm and twice on his ballistic-resistant vest. The suspect then fled on foot and escaped attempts to apprehend him. The suspect was arrested the next day and faces multiple charges in connection with this incident, in addition to the outstanding parole violation charge.
The deputy was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he is undergoing treatment for his injuries, which are classified as “non-life threatening.” According to Bastrop County Sheriff Maurice Cook, the deputy’s vest “likely saved his life.”
Read more about this incident here.

February 16, 2022: – A North Middletown Township, Pennsylvania police officer is recovering after being shot Wednesday afternoon. Around 3:30 pm, North Middletown Township Police went to a residence on Brittney Drive to serve an arrest warrant. The homeowner allowed the officers inside the residence, where they encountered the wanted subject. He refused to comply with the officer’s verbal commands, and drew a handgun, shooting one of the officers in the chest at point-blank range. The officer was wearing a ballistic-resistant vest, which stopped the round. The officers retreated from the residence, but were followed outside by the suspect, who pointed his gun at the officer he had just shot. The officer returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect, who died at the scene.
The officer was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and was released.
Read more about this incident here.

February 11, 2022: – A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania SWAT officer’s ballistic-resistant vest protected him when he was shot Friday afternoon. Just after 12:30 pm, a team of Philadelphia SWAT officers were attempting to serve an arrest warrant on an individual wanted for a probation violation when the suspect opened fire on them. The lead officer of SWAT team said he heard several pops, followed by a stinging in his chest. He observed several holes in the nearby drywall and the door, and he realized he had been hit. The suspect attempted to escape by jumping out the window of his third story apartment onto an adjacent rooftop, where he was confronted by a team of backup officers. He pointed his gun at the officers, who fired several shots at the suspect, but missed. The suspect attempted to dispose of his weapon and flee on foot but was taken into custody.
The officer was examined at the scene and suffered no injuries other than a red mark on his chest underneath where the bullet impacted his vest.
The suspect was charged with multiple offenses, including attempted murder, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and drug manufacturing-related offenses. The gun he used in the assault was determined to be stolen from a nearby jurisdiction.
Read more about this incident here.

February 5, 2022: – A Lexington, Kentucky police officer's ballistic-resistant vest protected him when he was shot Saturday afternoon, according to Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers. At approximately 12:50 pm, several Lexington officers approached a group of four juveniles who they believed were involved in an earlier shooting incident. During the investigation, one of the juveniles opened fire on the officers, striking one in his ballistic-resistant vest. Another officer on the scene returned fire, but no one was injured as a result. Three of the juveniles were detained, and one is still at large.
The officer was transported to a local hospital. As of late Saturday afternoon, Chief Weathers said the officer was still undergoing treatment for what is reported to be non-life-threatening injuries.
The incident remains under investigation by both the Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team and the Lexington Police Department Public Integrity Unit.
Read more about this incident here.

January 28, 2022: - A Kentucky State Trooper is recovering at home after being shot multiple times, several in his ballistic-resistant vest, on Friday afternoon. At approximately 4:15 pm, the trooper stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. While contacting the driver of the vehicle, the driver opened fire on the Trooper, striking him six times. Three shots were stopped by his ballistic-resistant vest, one struck his body-worn camera, another struck his Taser, and the sixth shot hit his body, causing reportedly serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect then fled in his vehicle. A Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife officer arrived on the scene to assist shortly after the shooting, and transported the injured Trooper to a local hospital, where he was treated for his injuries and released the next day.
The 22-year-old suspect was found and arrested at approximately 10 pm on Friday evening. He is currently in custody, and is facing multiple charges, including being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun and attempted murder of a police officer.
Read more about this incident here.

January 23, 2022: - A Jones County, Georgia, deputy is recovering after being shot early Sunday morning. Shortly after midnight, the deputy initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle. As the deputy approached the vehicle, the driver opened fire on the deputy, striking him once in his ballistic-resistant vest. The suspect then fled in his vehicle, with the injured deputy pursuing him. With the assistance of several other deputies, a spike strip was deployed successfully, and they were able to take the 24-year-old suspect into custody.
The deputy was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released. The suspect was arrested and is facing multiple charges, including aggravated assault.
Read more about this incident here.

January 14, 2022: - A Lee County, North Carolina, deputy is recovering after being shot Friday evening. Shortly after 9 pm, the deputy responded to a call for an intoxicated individual in the roadway. As the deputy approached the 27-year-old suspect, the suspect pulled a concealed handgun from his clothing and opened fire on the deputy. One round passed through the deputy’s body camera and lodged in his ballistic-resistant vest.
The deputy was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released. The suspect was arrested and is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder.
Read more about this incident here.

January 11, 2022: – Two Thomas County, Georgia, deputies are recovering after being shot early Tuesday. Shortly after midnight, the deputies were serving an arrest warrant on an individual wanted for a probation violation. During the attempted arrest, a struggle occurred between the deputies and the suspect, who was able to take one of the deputies' handgun and open fire on them. Both deputies were struck by gunfire, one below his ballistic-resistant vest, and the second on his ballistic-resistant vest. The suspect then fled the scene on foot and is still at large. One deputy was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Read more about this story here.

December 27, 2021: – A Lakewood, Colorado police officer is recovering after being shot during an exchange of gunfire with a suspect who committed multiple shooting attacks in the Denver and Lakewood area on Monday. Shortly after 5 pm on Monday, Denver Police responded to a series of shooting incidents that left four people dead and one injured. A suspect was located fleeing the scene of the last incident in a vehicle, and police gave pursuit. During the pursuit, gunfire was exchanged between the suspect and police, and a pursuing police vehicle was disabled allowing the suspect to get away. Shortly after 6 pm, Lakewood Police received a call of a shooting incident at a business. When they arrived, a victim was found dead at the scene. The suspect was located a short distance away, and police exchanged gunfire with the suspect, who fled on foot into a hotel and shopping area. In the hotel, the suspect shot a desk clerk. As the suspect fled that scene, he was confronted by a Lakewood Police officer. The suspect shot the officer in the abdomen, but she was wearing a ballistic-resistant vest. Other Lakewood officers arrived and exchanged gunfire with the suspect, who died at the scene. The injured Lakewood officer was transported to a local hospital, where she underwent surgery for her injuries. According to Lakewood Police Public Information Officer John Romero, the officer is in stable condition, and is expected to survive. “I cannot emphasize enough how heroic this Lakewood agent is. She took a situation that was already horrendous and put herself in harm’s way to stop it before it got even worse,” Romero said. “We’re beyond proud of her actions and the lives she likely saved because of her acts last night.”
Read more about this story here.

December 27, 2021: – An Escondido, California, police officer is recovering after being shot during an exchange of gunfire after a vehicle pursuit of an individual suspected of a homicide. At approximately 5 pm on Sunday, a man in Vista, California, was shot and killed in his driveway. The investigation identified a suspect, who was related to the deceased, and was seen leaving the scene in a 2018 Chevy Silverado. Over 6 hours later, an Escondido police officer spotted the suspect’s vehicle while on patrol and initiated a pursuit of the vehicle. The pursuit lasted nearly four hours, with officers deploying spike strips, which did not stop the vehicle. Officers learned the vehicle was equipped with GM’s OnStar system, and contacted OnStar representatives, who were able to remotely slow the vehicle’s engine down, ending the pursuit. Upon stopping, the driver of the vehicle opened fire on officers, striking one in the chest. However, the officer was wearing a ballistic-resistant vest, which stopped the round. In the exchange of gunfire, the suspect was also shot by police. Both the officer and the suspect were transported to a local hospital, where the suspect later died from his injuries. The officer is being treated for what was reported to be “non-life-threatening injuries” and is expected to make a full recovery.
Read more about this story here.

December 8, 2021: – A National Park Service (NPS) Ranger avoided serious injury after being shot in his ballistic-resistant vest on Wednesday. At approximately 10 am, the NPS Ranger initiated a traffic stop in Rocky Mountain National Park, near the Fall River entrance, on a vehicle matching the description of one involved in a short pursuit with the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) near Loveland earlier that morning. As the NPS Ranger approached the vehicle, gunfire was exchanged between the driver and Ranger. According to NPS Spokesperson Kyle Patterson, the Ranger was struck in the chest, but the round was stopped by his ballistic-resistant vest. The driver of the vehicle was shot in the leg. The Ranger was able to detain both the driver and his female passenger until additional officers could arrive at the scene and place both suspects under arrest. Both the Ranger and the vehicle driver were transported to a local hospital, where they were treated for what was reported to be “non-life-threatening injuries”. According to NPS Spokesperson Patterson, this is the first time in park history that a Ranger was involved in a shooting, let alone being shot. “We are okay now because our colleague is okay,” Patterson said. “That’s where we are sitting right now, realizing this is something that can happen anywhere, and we are just relieved that our colleague is safe.” The incident remains under investigation and charges, both state and Federal, are pending against the suspects as the incident occurred on NPS property.
Read more about this story here.

December 1, 2021: – A Tulsa, OK, airport police officer is recovering after being shot early Wednesday. A female airline passenger travelling from Houston to Tulsa had been threatened by her estranged husband prior to leaving Houston, stating that he was going to kill her when she arrived in Tulsa. She notified Houston Police, who in turn notified Tulsa Police. Upon arriving in Tulsa shortly after midnight, Tulsa City and Airport police officers were escorting the woman to a parking garage to her awaiting vehicle when the estranged husband opened fire on the woman and officers from across the drop-off/pick-up lanes. The woman and her brother, who was driving the car, were able to escape unharmed. Officers then pursued the suspect into a parking garage. In the exchange of gunfire, a Tulsa Airport Police Officer was struck in the chest but was wearing a bullet-resistant vest that stopped the round. The suspect was shot in the foot and was apprehended. Both the officer and the suspect were taken to a local hospital, where the officer was treated and released, and the suspect remains in treatment. Multiple charges, including attempted murder, are pending against the suspect.
Read more about this story here.

November 16, 2021: – A Gadsen County, Florida, deputy sheriff is recovering after being shot several times, twice in her ballistic-resistant vest, by a suspect she encountered in a stolen vehicle. While on patrol in a rural area of Gadsen County Tuesday morning at approximately 11:45 am, the deputy observed a vehicle matching the description of a reported stolen vehicle approaching from the opposite direction. The operator of the vehicle, later identified as a 38-year-old wanted felon, swerved into the deputy’s lane, striking her patrol vehicle head-on and forcing it off the road into a ditch. As the deputy was still in her vehicle, the suspect got out of the stolen vehicle and fired three shots at the deputy. All three shots struck the deputy, two of them impacting her ballistic-resistant vest. The suspect then fled on foot into a wooded area. The deputy was able to get out of her car and go to a nearby house, where the residents called 911 and assisted her until other deputies arrived on the scene. She was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. After a several hours long search of the wooded area, the suspect was located and taken into custody, and is now facing multiple charges related to the shooting of the deputy and theft of the vehicle. The deputy is expected to make a full recovery.
Read more about this story here.

October 22, 2021: - Two Doral, Florida police officers, one of whom was wearing a ballistic-resistant vest, are recovering after being shot Friday morning. According to police, at approximately 11 am, two men were involved in an argument which resulted in one of the men chasing the other in their vehicles. The man lost control of his car and crashed into a tree, which was witnessed by Doral officers in the area on patrol. As the officers approached the crash scene, the operator got out of the vehicle and opened fire on police without warning or provocation. One officer was grazed on his cheek by either glass or shrapnel, and a second officer, who was wearing a ballistic-resistant vest, was struck three times in the chest, arm and leg. In the exchange of gunfire between the suspect and police, the suspect was shot and killed. The two injured officers were transported to local hospitals, where they continue to be treated for their injuries.
Read more about this incident here.

October 7, 2021: - A Brockton, Massachusetts police officer is recovering after being shot four times Thursday evening, once in his ballistic-resistant vest. Brockton officers responded to a call of shots fired around 6 pm. On arrival, police discovered a man dead in his SUV from a gunshot wound. A man believed to have shot and killed the man in the SUV then opened fire on police, striking the officer four times, including on his ballistic-resistant vest. The man then barricaded himself in his home, resulting in a several hours long standoff with police. The standoff ended when the man came out of his home and shot himself. He was transported to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. The officer who was shot, a recent graduate from the training academy, was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for gunshot injuries to his hand and leg, and was released the next morning. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Read more about this incident here.

October 7, 2021: - A Grundy County, Illinois deputy is recovering after being shot three times Thursday afternoon, twice in his ballistic-resistant vest. At approximately 5 pm, the deputy attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation. After initially stopping, the operator of the vehicle took off, leading the deputy on a pursuit, during which the fleeing vehicle was involved in two crashes before coming to a stop near a railway crossing in the town of Mazon, IL. The vehicle operator then fled on foot. During the foot pursuit, the fleeing individual turned and fired several shots at the deputy, striking him three times: once in the forearm, once in the chest and once in the back. The last two shots were stopped by the deputy’s ballistic-resistant vest. The injured deputy was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released. According to Grundy County Sheriff Ken Briley, the officer was “in good shape” and that “we’re very, very lucky that the ballistic vest stopped those two bullets.”
The man suspected of shooting the deputy was located by police in a nearby apartment complex, where he barricaded himself, resulting in a brief standoff with police. The standoff ended when the man came out of his home and surrendered to police. He is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and aggravated battery.
Read more about this incident here.

October 1, 2021: - A Sheffield, Alabama police officer was killed, and a second officer is recovering after being shot Friday afternoon by a suspect in another shooting incident. The officers responded to a local shopping mall on Friday for a report of an individual laying in the road. Investigation revealed this person had been shot, and officers located a suspect in a vehicle nearby, which they began to follow. Upon stopping the vehicle, the driver opened fire on the officers, striking two of them. One, Sgt. Nick Risner, succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital the following morning. A second officer was shot and struck in his ballistic-resistant vest, and was treated and released from a local hospital. The suspect was taken into custody and faces multiple charges.
Read more about this incident here.

September 21, 2021: – A Littleton, CO police officer was shot multiple times, including several times in his ballistic-resistant vest, while investigating a report of shots fired from a vehicle. Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, Littleton officers were dispatched to respond to a report of shots fired from a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers located a possible suspect vehicle and as officers approached the vehicle, both occupants of the vehicle fled on foot. As one of the fleeing suspects entered an apartment building, he turned and opened fire on the officers, striking one of them multiple times. According to Littleton Police Chief Doug Stephens, the officer was wearing ballistic-resistant body armor and was shot “more than three” times.
“We believe he received a few shots to his torso, which were absorbed by the body armor, and he received wounds to his extremities, his legs and arm, and possibly one up above his vest, on his chest,” Stephens said. The officer was transported to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery for his injuries, and is continuing to recover there. Both the shooter and the other occupant of the vehicle fled the scene and remain at large.
Read more about this story here.

September 16, 2021: – A Rockford, Illinois police officer is recovering after being shot while sitting in his patrol car. On Thursday at approximately 1 am, Rockford officers were in the area of S. 3rd and Pope Streets in Rockford when one shot rang out from close range. Police say the bullet went through the passenger side door of the squad car and struck the officer. The officer reported feeling pain on his side. The bullet was found on the floorboard of the squad car and did not penetrate the vest. The officer was checked out at an area hospital as a precaution, and no other injuries were reported. The investigation is ongoing.
Read more about this story here.

August 23, 2021: – An Alaska State Trooper was shot multiple times, including several times in his ballistic-resistant vest, while attempting to arrest an individual on an outstanding arrest warrant. At approximately 1 pm on Monday, an Alaska State Trooper attempted to arrest a 60-year-old suspect wanted on an arrest warrant for several misdemeanor charges. As the Trooper approached the suspect, the suspect drew a pistol and opened fire on the Trooper, striking him several times, including on his ballistic-resistant vest and his upper left arm. The suspect fled the area, and when other Troopers arrived, the injured trooper was airlifted to a hospital for surgery on his injured arm and treatment of a broken rib resulting from the impact on the ballistic-resistant vest. He is expected to recover from his wounds. The suspect was located the next morning in a wooded area near his home and was arrested. In addition to the outstanding charges from the warrant, he faces additional assault and attempted murder charges for Monday's incident.
Read more about this story here.

August 19, 2021: – An Albuquerque, New Mexico, police officer was one of four Albuquerque officers injured by gunfire Thursday morning during a response to a robbery. At approximately 10 am, Albuquerque officers were called to respond to a robbery. Upon encountering the suspects, gunfire was exchanged, resulting in four officers and one of the suspects being injured. According to University of New Mexico Hospital Trauma Director Dr. Sonlee West, one officer was struck in the neck above his ballistic-resistant vest, a second officer was struck in the forearm, and a third officer was injured by shrapnel hitting his eye. A fourth officer was struck in his ballistic-resistant vest. Dr. West said that “if he [the officer] had not had his bulletproof vest on, he would have sustained catastrophic injuries.”. The four officers and the suspect are being treated at UNMH for their injuries.
Read more about this story here.

August 16, 2021: – A Clay County, Texas, deputy sheriff was shot Monday evening during a traffic stop. According to Clay County Sheriff Jeff Lyde, as the deputy approached a white Cadillac he had stopped for a traffic violation, the driver opened fire on the deputy, striking him in the upper chest. Sheriff Lyde stated the deputy was wearing his ballistic-resistant vest and was able to return fire as the driver fled the scene in the Cadillac. The deputy did not realize at first that he had been injured, and attempted to pursue the vehicle, until he realized he had been shot. He was transported to a local hospital, where he is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The Cadillac involved in the incident was located unoccupied early Tuesday morning by Wichita Falls police near a local hospital, and the suspected gunman remains at large.
Read more about this story here.

August 14, 2021: – A Modesto, California police officer was shot and seriously wounded while attempting to serve a search warrant. At approximately 11:30 pm on Saturday, Modesto officers responded to an apartment to serve a search warrant related to suspected drug activity. Occupants of the apartment opened fire on police, striking one officer several times, once in his ballistic-resistant vest, and another below his vest in the abdomen. The officer was transported to a local hospital, where he underwent multiple surgeries. The shot to his abdomen damaged an artery to his leg, and as a result he may have to have a portion of his leg amputated. Four suspects were taken into custody and charged with various offenses, including the assault on the officers. A fifth suspect remains at large.
Read more about this story here.

August 6, 2021: – A La Habra, California police officer was shot Friday evening. At approximately 7:10 p.m. La Habra officers were called to respond to a report by a female of a man who was driving aggressively, tailgating her, and following her with every turn she made. Police advised her to go to a nearby police station. The man followed her to the police station, then attempted to enter the police station, but the lobby entrance was locked. Officers arrived and began speaking with the man. As one of the officers took a few steps back, the man turned and produced a handgun, firing at the officer and striking him in the chest. Officers returned fire, and the suspect fell to ground.
Medical aid was summoned and administered to the suspect shot by police and the officer struck in the chest in his ballistic-resistant vest. The suspect, who was shot in the head and torso, was declared deceased at the scene. The officer was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and released. A subsequent investigation by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office determined the officer’s actions were justified, and that the suspect had amphetamine, marijuana, and methamphetamine in his system at the time of the incident.
Read more about this incident here.

July 5, 2021: – A Houston, Texas, police officer is being treated at a local hospital after being shot on Monday. At approximately 11 am, officers were called to respond to a dispute over a parking space. Upon arrival, officers were told by the caller that she had been in an argument over a parking space with a male, and that he had spat in her face during the argument. Officers went to the man’s apartment to speak with him, but upon arriving at the door the man opened fire on the officers, striking one officer twice, once in his arm and once in the abdomen, which according to police was stopped by his ballistic-resistant vest. The 26-year-old male was apprehended by other officers at the scene without incident.
Read more about this story here.

June 13, 2021: – A Cobb County, Georgia, police officer is recovering at home after being shot in his ballistic-resistant vest. On Sunday at approximately 3:30 pm, officers were called to respond to a reported domestic violence incident. Upon arrival, a 20-year-old male shot one of the officers at what was described by police as “point-blank range”, striking the officer in the chest on his ballistic-resistant vest. The suspect fled the scene on foot, resulting in a three-hour long search. When the suspect was found by Cobb County SWAT officers, he was shot and killed in an exchange of gunfire.
According to Cobb County Sgt. Wayne Delk, the injured officer was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released. Sgt. Delk said, "Because of the vest it was not a life-threatening injury, but it would have been a lot worse had he not been wearing a vest."
Read more about this story here.

May 29, 2021: – An Indianapolis, Indiana officer is recovering after being shot five times, once in her ballistic-resistant vest, after an exchange of gunfire during the vehicle and foot pursuit of a suspect from another shooting incident.
At approximately 3:40 pm, a 21-year-old suspect allegedly shot two of his neighbors for unknown reasons, then fled in his SUV. IMPD officers tried to stop the suspect and his vehicle a short distance away. The suspect got out of his vehicle and opened fire on the officers, striking one officer’s vehicle, before getting back in his SUV and fleeing once again. He stopped his vehicle a short distance later, where he once again opened fire on police, and gunfire continued to be exchanged between the suspect and police. As a result, a two-year veteran female officer of IMPD was struck five times—twice in her left leg, twice in her right arm, and once in the chest--on her ballistic-resistant vest--below her body camera. The suspect was also shot during the exchange of gunfire with police. He was transported to a local hospital and is listed in serious condition.
The officer who was shot was also transported to a local hospital, where she was treated and released. She is expected to make a full recovery from her injuries.
Read more about this story here.

May 28, 2021: – A West Virginia State Trooper is recovering after being shot Friday in Martinsburg during a standoff with an individual suspected of being involved in a nearby homicide. Earlier in the day, West Virginia State Police were called to investigate a suspicious death near Hedgesville. Upon arrival, they found a deceased individual who had suffered "severe trauma". The investigation led troopers to a residence in the 100 block of Fairfax Street of Martinsburg around 3 pm, where they believed a possible suspect in the Hedgesville incident may be found. Upon arrival at the Martinsburg residence, troopers were fired upon by the suspect, who was hiding in the attic of the residence. One of the troopers was shot in the lower abdominal area but was saved due to the bulletproof vest that he was wearing. After being shot at, the troopers retreated outside and set up a perimeter. The suspect fired several more times out of the second-story window at law enforcement officers with what police believe to have been a handgun. After nearly an hour and no response from the suspect, troopers and Berkeley County deputies entered the home and found the suspect deceased from an apparently self-inflicted handgun wound. The investigation into both incidents is continuing.
The trooper was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated for his injuries and released.
Read more about this story here.

May 26, 2021: – A Flower Mound, Texas, police officer is recovering after being one of three officers shot Wednesday evening. At approximately 8 p.m., Flower Mound officers were called to respond to a residence where a wife reported her husband was armed and threatening to commit suicide. As three officers arrived on the scene and approached the residence, the 60-year-old suspect opened fire on the officers. One officer was injured when a bullet deflected off the glass of his ballistic-resistant shield, cutting his face. A second officer was grazed in the neck by another round. The third officer was shot in the chest but was protected by his ballistic-resistant vest. One of the officers was treated at the scene. The other two were taken to the hospital but were released later that night.
After a nearly ten-hour standoff that involved the suspect firing shots at a police robot, and police using drones to try to negotiate with the suspect, he was taken into custody after an FBI SWAT team fired tear gas into the residence. The suspect was taken to a local hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries and has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Additional charges are pending, according to police. Read more about this story here.

May 17, 2021: – Two Charles County, Maryland deputies were shot, one in his ballistic vest, on Monday afternoon. At approximately 3 pm, the deputies were attempting to serve an outstanding arrest warrant at a residence. As the officers approached the individual in his room inside the residence, he opened fire on the officers. One deputy was struck twice in the leg, with one shot fracturing his tibia. The other deputy was struck twice, once in his arm and once in the chest, where the round was stopped by the ballistic-resistant vest he was wearing. Both officers were able to retreat from the residence, and they were airlifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
A several hours-long standoff occurred between the police and the suspect, who barricaded himself in his home. After being unable to contact the suspect, officers entered the residence, finding the suspect dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The officers both experienced a lengthy recovery from their injuries but are expected to return to full duty. Read more about this story here.

May 12, 2021: – A NYPD officer is recovering at home after being shot three times, once in his ballistic-resistant vest, after an exchange of gunfire with a suspect from another shooting incident that occurred several blocks away.
At approximately 11:11 pm, NYPD officers were called to respond to a reported shooting at Madison Street and Broadway in Brooklyn. The investigation revealed that an individual approached a white SUV and opened fire on its three occupants, all accused gang members — killing one, injuring another, and leaving another unhurt, based on video at the scene. The vehicle crashed a short distance away.
Several officers began searching the area for the shooter. About five blocks away from the scene of the first incident, officers saw a man walking briskly near Saratoga Park. The officers got out of the vehicle to investigate, and "immediately, the male pulls a firearm, turns on the officers and begins to shoot," NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said. One of the officers was struck three times — in the vest, in the right leg, and in the buttocks, Shea said. The alleged shooter, identified as Boyce Hayward, 26, is an accused gang member and was struck in the leg during the exchange of gunfire with police. He was detained and his firearm recovered. He was transported to a local hospital and expected to survive.
The officer who was shot was also transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released the next day. He is expected to make a full recovery from his injuries. Read more about this story here.

April 15, 2021: - A Burleson (TX) police officer is recovering at home after being shot three times, once in his ballistic-resistant vest, during a traffic stop on Wednesday.
Officer Joshua Lott was released from JPS Hospital in Fort Worth at 6 p.m. Thursday, about 38 hours after he was shot in the neck, just below the shoulder, and in the chest. According to Burleson Police, Jerry Don Elders fired several rounds at Officer Lott after he pulled over the SUV Elders was driving and approached the passenger window.
Investigators believe Elders then went on to carjack a Burleson woman, who was shot and killed. Elders was arrested in Gainesville after a nine-hour manhunt Wednesday. He is currently being held in jail on a $1 million bond facing multiple charges, including aggravated assault against a public servant.
Burleson Police Chief Billy Cordell said Officer Lott’s bulletproof vest may have helped save his life, and the department is very thankful he’s going to be okay.
Read more about the incident here.

March 23, 2021: - A Sacramento (CA) police officer is recovering after being shot while investigating a shots fired call.
SPD officers responded to the 5900 block of Tangerine Avenue to investigate a report of shots being fired, police say. While checking the area, an officer then saw a person walking in the street. An officer then shined a light on the person – and as the suspect walked up to the passenger side window, he opened fire. Police say the officer – who was shot in the abdomen – was able to jump out of the patrol car and fire back, hitting the suspect. The suspect, identified as a 32-year-old male, fell to the ground after being shot. He was still holding his gun and wouldn’t let it go, police say.
With the suspect allegedly refusing to follow commands, a Crisis Negotiation and SWAT team were called to the scene. As seen in one of the videos released by the police department on Friday, officers eventually resorted to using a robot to move the loaded gun away from the suspect. Once the gun was safely out of his reach, officers detained the suspect and started medical aid. He was taken to the hospital, but he has since been released and booked into Sacramento County Jail. He is facing several charges, including attempted murder. Detectives also believe the suspect was shooting at another car that was driving through the area just before officers arrived.
Police say the officer who was shot was saved from critical injury by the vest he was wearing. He was treated at a local hospital and released.
Read more about the incident here.

March 7, 2021: - One NYPD officer was shot in his ballistic-resistant vest, and another was shot and grazed in the leg during a standoff with a Brooklyn man after he shot his roommate at their apartment late Sunday.
At approximately 9 pm, NYPD officers responded to a 911 call made by the suspect’s roommate after he was shot in both legs by the suspect and hid in a closet in the apartment. As officers arrived at the apartment, one was hit in his bulletproof vest and another officer grazed in the leg as the suspect fired through the door. The officers returned fire, and the alleged shooter barricaded himself inside, according to the sources. After a brief standoff, the 44-year-old suspect was taken into custody. According to police sources, he was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon and unlawful imprisonment.
Both officers went to Kings County Hospital and were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, sources said. The roommate was also treated at a nearby hospital for his injuries. Read more about the incident here.

February 27, 2021: - A Sebeka, MN police officer escaped injury as a result of wearing ballistic-resistant body armor after being shot in the torso by an assailant on Saturday evening.
At 8:48 p.m., a Wadena County deputy attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic offense near 205th Avenue and 280th Street in North Germany Township. The vehicle eventually stopped near 205th Avenue and 270th Street. The sheriff's office said a physical struggle ensued between the deputy and the driver. A second driver then arrived at the scene and right after, a Sebeka Police Department officer arrived, and the struggle continued.
According to a Wadena County Sheriff’s spokesperson, at least one of the two people involved began shooting at the officers. One of the officers returned fire. Both officers and both assailants were struck by gunfire. The injured deputy was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The deputy has since been released from the hospital and is recovering at home, according to an update from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
The Sebeka officer was struck in the vest and did not require medical treatment.
Read about the full story here.

January 25, 2021: - A Tuscaloosa, AL police officer is recovering from minor injuries after being shot in the chest by an armed assailant on Monday afternoon.
>At approximately 3:45 p.m., Tuscaloosa officers responded to a report of an individual openly displaying a firearm at an apartment complex. Upon arrival, the officers approached the individual, who did not comply with instructions to drop the weapon and fled on foot to a nearby golf course. During the pursuit, the individual opened fire on both officers, striking one in the torso. The officer was wearing a ballistic-resistant vest and suffered only minor bruising to his ribs. The other officer suffered a minor injury not related to the exchange of gunfire. Both officers were treated and released from a local hospital.
The suspect was also shot during the exchange of gunfire and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. He was taken into custody, and likewise treated at a local hospital. He was charged with three counts of attempted murder and was also found to have an outstanding arrest warrant in Mississippi for assault with a deadly weapon charges. Read about the full story here.

December 28, 2020: - A Charleston, SC police officer was treated and released from a local hospital after he was shot in the chest while investigating a reported domestic assault on early Tuesday morning.
Charleston Police were called to an apartment complex at 3:15 am on December 29 to investigate a reported domestic violence incident involving a firearm. Upon arrival, responding officers were shot at by the suspect, striking one of the officers in the chest. According to Charleston Police Chief Luther Reynolds, the officer was wearing a ballistic-resistant vest, which stopped the round. Also according to Chief Reynolds, in the ensuing exchange of gunfire between the suspect and police, the suspect was fatally shot. The injured officer was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated and released. Read about the full story here.

December 24, 2020: - A NYPD officer is recovering in a local hospital after he was shot in the back while investigating a reported domestic assault on Thursday evening.
Just after 9 p.m. on December 24, NYPD officers were called to respond to a reported domestic violence incident in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. The suspect had called his girlfriend and informed her that he was on his way to her apartment with a gun and was going to open fire when he got there. When he arrived, he opened fire on the responding officers, striking one in the back, then fled the scene on foot. After a foot pursuit and further exchange of gunfire, the suspect was apprehended by NYPD officers and taken into custody. The injured officer was taken to Kings County Hospital. NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said at a news conference Thursday that the officer who was shot would be OK. "He is in a little pain, but he is in extremely good spirits," Shea said. Read about the full story here.

December 20, 2020: - A Douglas County, Nevada sheriff's deputy is recovering in a local hospital after he was shot several times during a traffic stop on Sunday night.
During a traffic stop shortly after 11 p.m. on December 20, a passenger in the vehicle was identified as a fugitive. When deputies attempted to arrest the passenger, he opened fire on the deputies, shooting one of them three times. The deputy was shot twice in the chest and once in the face near the cheek. Police say body armor stopped the shots to the chest. The deputy was taken to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery and is recovering in stable condition.
In the ensuing crossfire between the suspect and deputies, the suspect was shot in the hand. He was taken into custody and received medical attention before he was taken to the Carson City Jail, where he was booked on multiple charges including battery with a deadly weapon on a protected person. The driver of the vehicle was also arrested and charged with harboring and aiding a felony offender. Read about the full story here.

December 8, 2020: - A Waterbury, Connecticut police officer is recovering after being shot in the chest during an incident that occurred while arresting an individual for suspicion of auto theft. Waterbury officers were taking a suspect in a stolen vehicle investigation into custody when they noticed two SUVs revving their engines and driving at a high speed towards the officers, police said. The SUVs, which later turned out to be stolen, crashed into several police cars. During the incident, officers fired at the approaching vehicles, and in the crossfire one of the officers was struck in the chest by a round fired by another officer. The officer was wearing a ballistic-resistant vest, which police stated likely saved his life. A total of six suspects were taken into custody and charges are pending completion of an investigation. The injured officer was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated and released. Read about the full story here.

November 29, 2020: - An Albert Lea, Minnesota police officer was one of three people, including two civilians, who were shot by a 21-year-old suspect on Sunday. Officers responded to a reported call of possible gunshots or fireworks discharged at 2:18 a.m. Upon arrival in the parking lot of the apartment complex, they were ambushed by the shooter, who opened fire on the officers from a third-floor apartment. One of the responding officers was shot in the chest, but was wearing body armor, which stopped the round. Two civilian bystanders were also shot, and a squad car was struck by several rounds. The responding officers were able to retreat and seek cover until additional backup could arrive. After a resulting eight-hour standoff, the suspect was taken into custody. Charges are pending completion of an investigation into why the shooter opened fire. The injured officer and civilian bystanders were taken to local hospitals, where they were treated and released. Read about the full story here.

November 20, 2020: - A Massachusetts State Trooper is recovering after being shot during a traffic stop that occurred at approximately 11:30 pm in Hyannis. According to a statement from the Massachusetts State Police, the 28-year-old trooper was shot in the hand by occupants of a vehicle he had pulled over for a traffic violation. The bullet went completely through his hand and was stopped by his protective vest. A local photojournalist, who was first on the scene, immediately tried to provide first aid to the trooper. A fellow Trooper who arrived on the scene shortly thereafter rushed his injured colleague to Cape Cod Hospital. The injured trooper was then taken to Mass General Hospital in Boston by ambulance. The trooper’s injuries are described as non-life threatening.
The suspects immediately fled the scene in their vehicle. Their car was later recovered by police, but the suspects remain at large. Read about the full story here.

October 2, 2020: - A Willowick, Ohio, police officer is recovering at his home after being shot during a traffic stop, according to Willowick Police Chief Brian Turner. Police in a neighboring jurisdiction received a call about a driver who was driving erratic and may be intoxicated, Chief Turner said. The driver went into Willowick where he crashed into a car and flipped it. The driver of the flipped car is OK, according to police. Officers pulled the driver over about a mile from the intersection where the crash happened. Officers asked the driver to show his hands and the driver pulled out a gun and started shooting towards them, Turner said. During the exchange of gunfire, the officer was struck in the chest, but his bullet-resistant vest stopped the bullet, according to Chief Turner. The officer was treated at a local hospital and released later the same day. Read about the full story here.

September 28, 2020: - A Jacksonville, Florida Sheriffs SWAT team member attempting to serve a high-risk arrest warrant with Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents was shot multiple times by the suspect. According to Sheriff Mike Williams, because the officer was wearing body armor “the vest saved his life today without a doubt”, and he only suffered minor injuries. The officer was treated at a local hospital and released later the same day. Read about the full story here.

August 29, 2020: - A Daytona Beach, Florida police officer attempting to serve an arrest warrant for attempted murder was shot in the chest by the suspect. According to a statement by Chief of Police Craig Capri, because the officer was wearing body armor, he only suffered a bruise to his chest from the impact of the shot that struck him. He was treated at local hospital, and is expected to make a full recovery. Read about the full story here.

August 23, 2020: - Two Prince Georges County (MD) police officers were shot while responding to a reported home invasion. According to the Interim Police Chief, both officers, one who was struck in the chest and the other who was struck in the back, were protected from more serious injuries because they were both wearing their body armor. Both officers were treated at local hospital, but are expected to make a full recovery. Read about the full story here.

August 16, 2020: - A Cedar Park, TX police officer responding to a reported domestic dispute and possible hostage situation was shot in the lower rib area and avoided serious injury because the officer was wearing body armor. Read about the full story here.

May 27, 2020: - A Baltimore City, MD police officer was shot in the lower abdomen and saved by body armor, after a vehicle and foot pursuit of a suspected drunk driver ended with gunfire. Read the full story here.

May 27, 2020: - A Tonawanda, NY police detective was shot multiple times, with two shots impacting his body armor, by a suspect who returned to the scene of a drive-by shooting and opened fire on investigating officers. Read the full story here.

May 13, 2020: - A Raleigh, North Carolina, police officer was shot Wednesday evening. At approximately 7:20 p.m. Raleigh officers were called to respond to a reported armed robbery in progress at a convenience store. As the first two officers arrived on the scene, a witness pointed them toward a man leaving the scene in an adjacent parking lot. One of the officers headed towards the man, ordering him to stop. The man turned and produced a handgun, firing at the officer and striking him in the chest. The officer returned fire, and the second officer, upon hearing the gunshots, responded and engaged, firing at the suspect. The suspect fell to ground, dropping both his handgun and a bag, which was later determined to contain money and merchandise stolen during the robbery.
Medical aid was summoned and administered to the suspect shot by police and the officer struck in the chest in his ballistic-resistant vest. Both were transported to a nearby hospital, where the suspect died from his injuries. The officer was treated for minor injuries and released. The investigation into the officer-involved shooting is ongoing. Read more about this incident here.

April 15, 2020: - A Jefferson City, MO police officer was shot in the chest and saved by body armor, and a suspect was fatally shot after a vehicle and foot pursuit ended with gunfire. Read the full story here.

April 10, 2020: - A Phoenix, AZ police officer who was shot during a recent response to a domestic violence incident that also left a Phoenix PD Commander dead and another officer injured, credits a protective plate recently given to her by her father—himself a Phoenix PD reserve officer—with helping to stop a round that impacted the plate and the ballistic armor she was wearing underneath it. Read the full story here.

February 16, 2020: - An Anchorage, AK, police officer was shot in his badge early Sunday morning during a traffic stop and gunfight near one of the city's airports. The bullet hit Officer Jason Cusack's badge and was stopped by his body armor. Read the full story here.

October 23, 2019: - An NYPD officer responding to a call concerning a suspicious and possibly armed individual survived a gunshot to the chest from the suspect because of his body armor and was treated and released from the hospital. Read the full story here.

June 13, 2019: - Union City (Ga.) Police officer Jerome Turner, Jr. was shot several times during an encounter with an armed suspect in April. Now recovering at home after multiple surgeries, he credits his body armor with saving his life. Read the story here.

June 7, 2019: - A stop for a seat belt violation ended with a South Carolina state trooper being shot on June 2 near a campground in York County. He was saved by wearing his ballistic-resistant vest. Read more here.

June 6, 2019: - A Virginia Beach police officer survived the mass shooting attack in the Virginia Beach Municipal Center on May 31 because he was wearing his ballistic-resistant vest. Read the story here.

May 21, 2019: - A Salem, OR police officer survived a shooting during a traffic stop because she was wearing body armor. She was also able to apply a tourniquet while she waited for medical assistance. Read the story here.

April 16, 2019: - A Mississippi Sheriff’s Deputy who was shot several times in the chest was saved by wearing his body armor. Read the story here.

March 26, 2019: - A West Texas sheriff's deputy was shot multiple times and critically wounded while conducting a traffic stop. His body armor saved him. Read the story here.

March 19, 2019: - A police officer involved in a shootout at a Las Vegas casino was shot in the chest. He was saved by wearing his body armor. Read the story here.

March 14, 2019: - A Massachusetts police officer’s body armor saved him when a suspect stabbed him during a struggle. Read the story here.

March 1, 2019: - Body armor saved a police officer who accidentally shot himself in the chest. Read the story here.

January 30, 2019: - A Chicago police officer was shot while responding to a family disturbance call. A bullet grazed his body armor. He was not injured. Read the story here.

January 7, 2019: - A New Orleans police officer who was shot twice in the chest was saved by wearing his body armor. Find details here.

December 12, 2018: - A police officer in Calhoun, Georgia was shot at a gas station. He was saved by wearing his body armor. Read the story here.

December 10, 2018: - A police officer in Tulare, California was shot while attempting a traffic stop. His body armor saved him from serious injury. Read the story here. 

December 4, 2018: - A Louisiana deputy was shot in the back and was saved by his body armor. Read the story here.

November 30, 2018: - A Chicago Police officer making a traffic stop near 87th Street and Ashland Avenue was saved by his ballistic-resistant vest when a suspect got out of the car and attempted to flee. It happened one day after another was slain at an area hospital. Read the story here.

November 21, 2018: - A Chicago police officer survived when he was shot in the back of his ballistic-resistant vest. He is expected to make a full recovery. Read the story here.

November 15, 2018: - A Prince William County police officer was saved by wearing his body armor. Read more about the incident here.

October 22, 2018: -  A Georgia State Patrol trooper, who was shot by a handcuffed suspect, was saved by wearing his body armor. Two other troopers on the scene shot and killed the gunman. Read the story here.

September 5, 2018: - An Aurora Police officer, shot during an altercation outside an apartment building, was saved by wearing his body armor. Read the story here.

August 2, 2018: - Two Falmouth police officers, shot while responding to a disturbance call in a residential neighborhood, are expected to fully recover. One was grazed by a bullet, the other was shot in the chest and saved by wearing his body armor. Read more here.

June 19, 2018: - A Statesville (NC) police officer who was shot in the back by an unknown gunman was saved by wearing his ballistic body armor. Read the story here.

June 18, 2018: - Two North Braddock (PA) police officers were shot by a man who was occupying an abandoned building they were investigating. Both officers were saved by wearing their ballistic body armor. Read the story here.

April 16, 2018: - A Harnett County (NC) Sheriff’s deputy was shot while investigating a report of a missing juvenile. He was saved by wearing his ballistic body armor. Read the story here.

April 3, 2018: - A St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy was wounded, but survived an Easter morning shootout. He was wearing his body armor and one of the bullets struck his vest. Read the story here.

February 26, 2018: - A police officer in St. Louis who was a member of a U.S. Marshal’s Service task force was shot while attempting to arrest a suspect. He was saved by wearing his body armor. Read the story here.

January 25, 2018: - A Michigan State Trooper was saved by wearing his body armor. He was shot during a gunfight with a person of interest in a murder investigation. Read the story here.

December 14, 2017: - Two Missouri police officers, shot during a struggle with a gunman, were saved by wearing their body armor.
Read the story here.

December 8, 2017: - A Chicago police officer who was shot in the hand, avoided more serious injury from a second gunshot because he was wearing his body armor. Read the story here.

November 20, 2017: - A Charleston, W. Va. police officer who was shot while responding to a burglary call, was saved by wearing his body armor. One of the suspects was killed. Read the story here.

October 24, 2017: - A California Highway Patrol officer was saved by wearing his body armor during an encounter with a gunman on a shooting spree. Read the story here.

October 16, 2017: - A Newark, NJ SWAT officer was shot while executing a search warrant. He was saved by wearing his body armor. http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/10/14/newark-swat-officer-shot/

October 3, 2017: - A NC trooper was shot and saved by his body armor while engaging in a shootout with a barricaded man. Read the story here:

October 2, 2017: - One officer was killed, another was saved by his body armor when a gunman emerged from the woods during a stolen car investigation in rural Georgia. Read the story here.

September 22, 2017: - A Phoenix police officer who was shot earlier this week was saved by wearing his body armor. Read the story here.

September 13, 2017: -An Oregon State Trooper who was shot during a traffic stop, was saved by wearing his body armor. Read the story here.

September 6, 2017: - A Fresno, CA police officer was stabbed in the chest and saved by wearing his body armor. Read the story here.

August 30, 2017: - A Louisiana deputy, shot during a traffic stop, was saved by wearing his body armor. Read the story here.

August 29, 2017: - A New Mexico State Police Officer who was shot by a handcuffed suspect, was saved by wearing his body armor. Read the story here.

August 11, 2017: - A NYPD officer was shot three times and was saved by wearing his body armor. Read the story here.

July 3, 2017: - A police officer in Norfolk, VA was shot Sunday and was saved by wearing his body armor. Read the story here.

June 29, 2017: - A McCreary County (Kentucky) deputy, shot while pursuing a motorcyclist, was saved by wearing his body armor. See the story here.

June 21, 2017: - Two Coffee County (TN) deputies shot by an inmate at the county courthouse survived. One was saved by his body armor. Read the story here.

June 19, 2017: - A Hall County (GA) Sheriff’s deputy shot during a home invasion call was saved by wearing his body armor. Read the story here.

June 13, 2017: - A Hampton, Virginia police officer was shot by a burglary suspect. He was saved by wearing his body armor. See the story here.

June 13, 2017: Two Kentucky police officers were shot while serving a warrant. Both survived. Body armor prevented one officer from sustaining serious injury. Read the story here.

June 12, 2017: - A police officer in Prattville, Alabama was shot while responding to a domestic violence call. His body armor saved him. Read the story here.

June 5, 2017: - A Riverside County (CA) sheriff’s deputy was shot 5 times. He survived because he was wearing his ballistic body armor. Read the story here.

May 30, 2017: - Two officers survived a shooting in College Park, Georgia over the weekend. One was saved by his body armor. The suspected shooter is still being sought. Find details here.

May 12, 2017: - A Chicago police officer who was shot in the chest was saved by wearing his body armor. Details here.

April 27, 2017: - A Banks County (Georgia) Sheriff’s deputy was shot after pulling over an armed robbery suspect.  He was saved by wearing his body armor. Read the story here.

April 21, 2017: - Three Seattle police officers were injured in a shooting following a robbery. One of the suspects was killed. One of the police officers was saved by wearing her body armor. Read more here.

March 28, 2017: - An Anderson, California police officer was saved by wearing his ballistic vest. Read more about the incident here.

March 16, 2017: - Two Detroit police officers are expected to recover after being shot during an investigation. One of the officers was struck twice in the chest. He is ballistic resistant body armor stopped the bullets. Read more here.

March 16, 2017: - A San Bernardino California sheriff’s deputy was shot by a robbery suspect and survived. He was wearing his ballistic resistant vest and it is credited with saving his life. Read more here.

January 3, 2017: - Two Texas law enforcement officers were saved by wearing body armor in two separate shooting incidents. Read more here.

December 15, 2016: - An Indiana police officer was shot in the chest, and sustained only minor injuries because he was wearing his vest. Read the story here.

December 14, 2016: - A Georgia police officer is recovering after a shooting during a drug investigation. He was shot in the arm and the chest. He was wearing his body armor and it is credited with preventing serious injury. Read the story here.

December 13, 2016: - A police officer in Leland, NC survived a shooting during a traffic encounter with a suspected drunk driver. His body armor is credited with saving his life. Read the story here.

November 10, 2016: - A New York police officer who struggled with a burglary suspect after a foot pursuit, was saved from a knife attack by wearing his body armor. Read the story here.

October 22, 2016: - A Columbus, Georgia police officer who was shot during a burglary investigation was saved by wearing his ballistic-resistant vest. Read the story here.

October 20, 2016:- A Paris, (KY) Police Officer was shot Tuesday night inside a home while trying to make contact with an individual. He was wearing his body armor which is being credited with saving his life. A standoff ensued at the residence. Read the story here.

September 30, 2016: - A Willcox (AR) Police Officer was shot after a traffic-related incident and pursuit. He was wearing his body armor which prevented serious injury. The shooter was also shot and apprehended. Read the story here.

September 21, 2016: - One of the police officers who apprehended the bombing suspect in New York/New Jersey was shot during the encounter. He was saved by wearing his body armor. Read the story here.

September 17, 2016: - Two Forth Worth (TX) police officers survived a shooting at a home on Friday. Both were wearing their body armor when they responded to a call to check on a suicide report.  Read the story here.

September 17, 2016: - Two police officers were among 7 shot in in Philadelphia Friday night. One officer, ambushed in her car by the shooter, was hit several times. Her body armor is credited with saving her. A civilian and the shooter were killed. Read the story here.

August 9, 2016: - An Oregon police officer who was shot by a fleeing suspect after a traffic stop was saved by wearing is ballistic vest. The suspect took a hostage and was eventually shot by police. Read the story here.

July 26, 2016: - Cleveland Metroparks Ranger Chelsea McLellan was shot by a suspect who had smuggled a gun into the back of her police cruiser. As she was transporting him to jail, the suspect began shooting and she was struck in the shoulder. Her ballistic body armor is credited with saving her life.  http://bit.ly/2aimlZ2

July 17, 2016: - Milwaukee police officer Brandon Baranowski was shot as he sat in his squad car while fellow officers investigated a domestic disturbance. His assistant police chief says Baranowski was saved by wearing his ballistic body armor. http://bit.ly/29Oi2nO

July 5, 2016: - A North Charleston, SC police officer was shot during a standoff with a suspect who had allegedly tried to run over a pedestrian with a car. Officer Wayne Pavlischek was wearing his ballistic vest. He was transported to a local hospital and was treated for non-life threatening injuries. Read the story here.

June 28, 2016: - A Boise Police officer was shot in the chest during a shootout with a suspect. He sustained nonlife-threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital. Authorities say he was saved by wearing his body armor. Read the story here.

June 24, 2016: - Folcroft (PA) Police Officer Christopher Dorman survived being shot 7 times and is expected to fully recover. Several bullets struck his ballistic vest, and officials say the body armor likely saved his life. Four people are in custody following the shooting. Read the story here.

June 14, 2016: - A Louisville, KY police officer survived a shooting at close range. His chief credits the fact that Officer Kyle Carroll was wearing his ballistic body armor with saving his life. Read the story here.

June 14, 2016: - An Orlando, FL police officer was saved by wearing his ballistic helmet. Orlando police identified Michael Napolitano as one of the officers who responded to the attack at the Pulse nightclub Sunday morning, in which at least 49 were killed. His helmet was punctured by a bullet and is being crediting with saving his life. Read the story here.

June 8, 2016: - A Stafford County (Virginia) Sheriff’s deputy was shot four times while responding to a breaking and entering call. He suffered extensive injuries but survived and the shooter was apprehended and charged with attempted capital murder.  The sheriff’s office says the deputy’s ballistic body armor saved his life. http://wtvr.com/2016/06/08/stafford-deputy-shot/

June 6, 2016: - An Atlanta police officer, responding to a home invasion call, was shot in the abdomen. He managed to return fire and two suspects are in custody. The unnamed officer is recovering at an area hospital. Officials are citing the fact that he was wearing his ballistic body armor as saving his life. He is expected to recover and head home soon. Read the story here .

March 9, 2016: - A Jacksonville, Florida detective survived a shooting Wednesday during a traffic stop. He was wearing his body armor and it is likely that it saved his life. More details about the shooting, the detective and the arrest of the suspect are available here .

Aug. 25, 2015: For the second time in less than a week, a Mississippi law enforcement officer’s life was saved by his ballistic-resistant vest when shot at during a traffic stop. As the Monroe County Deputy approached a motorcycle, the sole occupant began shooting at the officer. A bullet struck the deputy in the vest and knocked him to the ground. More

Officer shot twice during scuffle, bulletproof vest stops one bullet - Aug. 19, 2015: CORINTH, MS (WMC)

A Corinth, Mississippi, police officer is in the hospital after getting shot with his own weapon during a scuffle with a possible prowler.

Corinth Police Chief Ralph Dance said Officer Kevin Parker Jr. was investigating the prowler call at a woman's home around 4 Wednesday morning.

Parker saw a man run out in front of his car. When he went to investigate, the man rushed Parker and fought to get his gun. More

Just before dawn on July 13, 2015, a 39-year-old sergeant with the St. Louis Police Department was treated and released from a local hospital after shots fired during an ambush were stopped by his ballistic-resistant vest. The officer was off-duty but wearing his uniform while working a second job in neighborhood security when a car carrying four men pulled up beside his unmarked personal vehicle, and one man got out and opened fire. There had been no previous contact between the officer and the suspect, who fled the scene on foot after the sergeant fired back. The car’s driver was arrested later in the day and one of the passengers turned himself in. Read more here .

Ballistic Vest Saves Officer from Injury
A disturbance call in Randolph County, NC turned violent when a person exited a residence and stabbed an officer in the chest.  Although there are no guarantees that ballistic-resistant vests will provide protection against edged-weapons, in many cases, as was the case in Randolph County, the vest was damaged and needed to be replaced, but the officer suffered no serious injuries. Video: NC suspect attacks deputy with knife

BVP Program Saves Lives! Law enforcement officers face life-threatening perils every day. In two separate incidents this month, officers in Ohio and New York were wounded by gunfire and survived after responding to reports of domestic violence and threats to use a firearm to harm others.

In a Tuesday, March 10 incident, officers from the Cleveland, Ohio Police Department  entered a home and encountered a man who immediately began shooting at them. One officer was struck in the chest and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Ten days later on Saturday, March 21, Orleans County, N.Y. sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene of the original incident after the suspect had left the area. More

Lewisburg, WV Officers Survive Deadly Assault
The unimaginable happened January 1, 2015, when Lt. Jeromy Dove, a 16-year veteran of the Lewisburg Police Department and Patrolman Nicholas Sams, barely three weeks out of the police academy, made what they considered to be a routine traffic stop. Unknown to the officers, there were two dead bodies in the bed of the pick-up truck they stopped and the driver opened fire on the officers. Both officers survived the deadly assault because the ballistic-resistant vests they were wearing, stopped the bullets. Funds from the Bulletproof Vest Partnership program, administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, had been used to purchase the vests.

Bullet-resistant Vest Saved North Charleston Officer’s Life
On Jan. 14, 2012, after leaving the scene of a home theft, Officer David Winslette of the North Charleston (S.C.) Police Department approached a subject who fit the description of the subject involved in the theft. Without warning, the subject opened fire on the officer; two of the shots struck the officer. If not for the bullet-resistant vest that Officer Winslette was wearing that night, the incident would have ended much differently and Officer Winslette would not be able to tell about the incident.

Interview with Kyle Russel

Officer Kyle Russel
Alexandria, Va., Police Department
Las Vegas SHOT Show
Orlando, Fla.
January 15-18, 2009

Stockton: Hi, I’m Dale Stockton, editor of Law Officer Magazine. We’re at the Orlando SHOT Show, and with me today is Kyle Russel of the Alexandria, Va., Police Department. Officer Russel this last year had an incident where his vest saved his life, and we’re going to talk to him about that. So Kyle, tell us what happened.

Russel: I’m a field training officer and I was training a brand-new officer that night. We were actually on 395 a stretch of highway right outside of Washington, D.C. We’d been on a call out of our area and we were on our way back to our beat. And a Lexus, brand-new car, flew past us on the highway, all over the road. Very erratic, very high speeds, like running cars off the road, somehow managed to not hit anybody. We lit it up. Eventually, he pulled over. He kept going on a little ways, he kept slowing down, speeding up. Very strange, and eventually he went from the far left lane all the way to the right. Slammed on his brakes. I told my rookie officer to mark “out” with a possibly intoxicated driver. I had already hopped out the car, I had a weird feeling about it. I wanted to make sure I got the keys from the drive. I suspected he was either highly highly intoxicated or having a diabetic seizure and was going into shock. I approached the car on the passenger side on the highway, I really don’t like a driver side approach on the highway, and I looked back to see where my rookie officer was and he was just getting out of his vehicle. I approached the car and I looked in with my light. His hands were on his lap and he was vomiting from the mouth, he had blood on his face. I looked in and I said “hey man, are you okay?” and he looked up at me and growled and said like “Hi,” while he looked at me and he reached under his leg and shot me once in the chest. Forty-five caliber round, hit me right here. I knew I was hit immediately, fortunately I was able to duck back. There was a guardrail on the side and I dove for the guardrail for some cover. I figured he was going to get out of the car and engage me so I wanted to have a little bit of cover. I drew my weapon and I looked back up. He had immediately fled. He was probably about 25 30 yard up the highway flying. I marked out with all the information on the vehicle. My rookie gave the state the tag. I gave the driver information and everything about it. And a little ways down the road he shot himself in the head. They actually went to make notification to his wife that he had shot a police officer and killed himself and it was at that time that they realized she had been murdered. She was later found by him inside the apartment right before I pulled him over. We had no idea that had happened. In the car, we found not only the .45 caliber he shot me with but a Bushmaster M4 and he had several loaded magazines, locked and loaded, and he had recently just been discharged from the Old Guard unit in the military. So that was the direction he was heading, on 395.

Stockton: You wear your vest all the time?

Russel: All the time. I never go to work without it. There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that if I hadn’t been wearing that vest, there’s no way I would be alive. A round in the chest like that, they said it would have missed my heart by about two inches. There’s no way I would have lived through it.

Stockton: What do you say to the guys that say “I carry it in the car; it gets too hot; if I need it, I’ll put it on” ?

Russel: I mean, that’s the dumbest thing you could ever say. I mean, I’m living proof, that’s the reason, you never know when it could be your day. And that was just a normal day for us. It was a Tuesday night. You never know what’s going to happen. What would you rather be, too hot or be alive? But I always wear mine, and everybody with Safariland and [unintelligible] and Second Chance, I really thank them for saving my life.

Stockton: Well, we can’t thank you enough for what you do. We really appreciate you being here today.

Russel: Thank you very much.