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hardwire armor saves
The following harrowing tales are the lived experiences of those saved by Hardwire armor, as recorded by the Safariland SAVES Club.
Officer Victoria Reilly
9/16/23 | Safariland SAVE No. 2,194
Detroit Police Department, MI
On September 16, 2023, Officer Victoria Reilly was enroute to a priority one call of a home invasion when she was involved in a serious auto accident. Officer Reilly suffered a concussion but thanks to her Safariland® Hardwire® level II armor, Officer Reilly sustained no injuries to the area protected by her armor. Officer Reilly has returned to full duty.
DEPUTY JEREMY MCKENNA
6/30/23 | Safariland SAVE No. 2,193
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, OR
On the morning of June 30th, 2023, deputies from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary in progress. After making contact with the suspects in an open field behind the business where the burglary took place, one suspect began to flee while the other one pulled a 9mm pistol out and started firing. Deputy Jeremy McKenna was hit in the abdomen, fracturing his pelvis and once in the left side of his chest. Deputy McKenna’s Safariland Hardwire Level IIIA armor stopped the round to his chest. The suspect also shot Deputy Dan Blair in the left arm. Deputies returned fire as the suspect fled and the suspect was arrested a few moments later. Additional deputies arrived and provided first aid to Deputy McKenna and Deputy Blair. Both deputies have since made full recoveries. The suspect is facing multiple felony charges.
DEPUTY SHAUN O’BANNION
8/17/23 | Safariland SAVE No. 2,179
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
On August 17, 2023, a U.S. Marshals Task Force approached a residence in an attempt to locate a fugitive wanted for shooting a Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy several days prior. As they made entry into the residence, the fugitive opened fire on the officers from the second story with a .9mm handgun. Deputy Shaun O’Bannion was shot in the shoulder and back. Officers were able to tactically retreat and officers, including Deputy O’Bannion, held the perimeter until SWAT arrived. Deputy O’Bannion’s Safariland Shift 360 Carrier Ballistic shoulder strap with MR02 armor deflected the shot to his shoulder and his Hardwire Model 3000 plate stopped the round to his back. The fugitive was taken into custody after a five-hour standoff.
SERGEANT ERIK BULLOCK
4/30/23 | Safariland SAVE No. 2,171
Philadelphia Police Department SWAT, PA
On April 30, 2023, a component of the Philadelphia Police Department’s SWAT team was dealing with an armed, barricaded suspect. As negotiations broke down, Officer Michael Laverghetta was charged with breaching the door so the contact team could confront the armed suspect and end the standoff. As Officer Laverghetta breached the door, the suspect opened fire with a 12ga shotgun from a position of cover. Officer Laverghetta’s bicep protector was hit, and teammates pulled him to a position of safety. Additional officers moved in, and Sgt. Erik Bullock led a contact team and was clearing a bedroom. The suspect again opened fire and Sgt. Bullock was hit in the bicep protector and cummerbund. He was able to return fire, and the suspect was taken into custody. Both officers’ Safariland Hardwire .68 armor stopped the 12ga shots, and neither had penetrating wounds.
OFFICER MICHAEL LAVERGHETTA
4/30/23 | Safariland SAVE No. 2,170
Philadelphia Police Department SWAT, PA
On April 30, 2023, a component of the Philadelphia Police Department’s SWAT team was dealing with an armed, barricaded suspect. As negotiations broke down, Officer Michael Laverghetta was charged with breaching the door so the contact team could confront the armed suspect and end the standoff. As Officer Laverghetta breached the door, the suspect opened fire with a 12ga shotgun from a position of cover. Officer Laverghetta’s bicep protector was hit, and teammates pulled him to a position of safety. Additional officers moved in, and Sgt. Erik Bullock led a contact team and was clearing a bedroom. The suspect again opened fire and Sgt. Bullock was hit in the bicep protector and cummerbund. He was able to return fire, and the suspect was taken into custody. Both officers’ Safariland Hardwire .68 armor stopped the 12ga shots, and neither had penetrating wounds.
OFFICER THOMAS FITZPATRICK
10/12/22 | Safariland SAVE No. 2,154
Philadelphia Police Department SWAT, PA
On October 12, 2022, members of the Philadelphia Police Department SWAT Team were serving a homicide warrant. As they knocked and announced, the assailant inside the building opened fire through the door and windows. Officer Thomas Fitzpatrick was struck on the front panel and plate of his armor. His Safariland vest equipped with Hardwire .68 ballistics and Hardwire 007-015-6110 ICW plate stopped the .45ACP round. Members of the team returned fire and neutralized the assailant. Officer Fitzpatrick was treated and released the same day.
Here it from tj
Officer Fitzpatrick spoke at Hardwire's Armor Saves event in 2023, hear him recount his save in the video!
SERGEANT KEVIN T. CREED
10/28/22 | Safariland SAVE No. 2,153
Aiken County Sheriff's Office, SC
On October 28, 2022, Sergeant Kevin T. Creed was part of a Special Operations Team that was searching a mobile home for a suspect wanted for murder. Sgt. Creed entered and began to clear a small bedroom when he noticed the closet door was partially open. Sgt. Creed moved to the door and the suspect, who was hiding behind the door, opened fire with a .9mm. One round hit Sgt. Creed’s Safariland PROTECH FAV armor’s throat protector, armored with Hardwire .68 Level IIIA ballistics. Had it not been for the throat protector stopping the round, the wound would most likely have been fatal. The assailant was taken into custody and faces multiple felony charges. Sgt Creed has returned to full duty.
Hear it from Kevin
Sgt. Creed spoke at Hardwire's Armor Saves event in 2023, hear him recount his save in the video!
OFFICER DONALD MURDOCH
2/11/22 | Safariland SAVE No. 2,135
Philadelphia Police Department SWAT, PA
On February 11, 2022 Officer Donald Murdoch was part of a SWAT Team component that was sent to serve a warrant on a suspected drug lab in Philadelphia. Once the officers ascended the 3 story staircase and were in position, they began breaching the door. During the breach, the suspect opened fire with a 9mm, shooting through the wall at the officers on the staircase. Officer Donald Murdoch was struck once in the chest. Thankfully, the round was stopped by his Safariland® Shift 360™ system – made up of Hardwire®.68 Level IIIA ballistics and a Hardwire® ICW plate . The SWAT Team continued the breach, causing the suspect to flee out the window. The suspect surrendered after taking fire from the SWAT officers positioned at the rear of the property.
Here it from Don
Sgt. Murdoch spoke at Hardwire's Armor Saves event in 2023, hear him recount his save in the video!
DEPUTY BREANTON CHITWOOD
8/16/21 | Safariland SAVE No. 2,117
Clay County Sheriff's Office, TX
On August 16, 2021, Deputy Breanton Chitwood of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office made a traffic stop near Jolly, Texas. As Deputy Chitwood got to the driver’s door of the suspect’s vehicle, the driver fired one round from a .38 revolver striking Deputy Chitwood in the chest. Deputy Chitwood stayed in the fight and moved to cover while returning fire, as the suspect fled the scene. The perpetrator was captured 2 days later and is currently awaiting trial on multiple felony charges. Deputy Chitwood was treated and released the same evening as the incident for the gunshot to the chest. His Hardwire® .68 Level IIIA armor stopped the round.
Sergeant Cory Ryan
10/16/20 | Safariland SAVE No. 2,099
Lyons Police Department, KS
On October 16, 2020, Sergeant Cory Ryan responded to a neighborhood dispute where a man who was cutting his lawn was being threatened by his neighbor who was armed with a gun. Upon Sgt. Ryan’s arrival he went to talk to the neighbor and the suspect opened fire. Sgt. Ryan was shot 6 times. He was hit 2 times in the face, once in the armpit, and 3 times on his armor. Sgt. Ryan was able to return fire and begin to move away from his assailant. A civilian couple who was driving past the house stopped and moved their car close to Sgt. Ryan and called to him to use it for cover. Sgt. Ryan got to the car and the couple pulled him in and drove him to the hospital. The assailant also shot the neighbor, a local schoolteacher, and coach. Officers arrived and rescued the wounded teacher and a tactical standoff ensued. The assailant eventually surrendered. The wounded teacher is recovering and in good spirits. Sgt. Ryan was moved to a hospital in Wichita the day of the shooting and it was determined his Safariland® Hardwire® Level IIIA armor had stopped all 3 rounds to his torso. He underwent multiple surgeries to the wounds off the armor and spent nearly 2 weeks in the hospital. He has returned home and hopes to return to duty soon.
Corporal detective james b. stanley
6/2/20 | Safariland SAVE No. 2,080
Fort Smith Police Department, AR
On June 2, 2020, Corporal Detective James B. Stanley, along with other detectives, was searching an apartment looking for a homicide suspect. During the search, detectives were unaware that there were two separate doors leading to the pantry/laundry room. As Detective Stanley entered from one direction armed with a 12-gauge shotgun, a second detective entered from the other direction and saw only the barrel of the shotgun and opened fire. Detective Stanley was hit in the hand and the chest with one 9mm 147 grain bonded Golden Saber round. His PROTECH® vest with the Hardwire® 007-015-3000 plate and HW 2015 09 armor stopped the round. Detective Stanley was treated for the wound to his hand and later stated that he never felt the bullet that hit his chest. We welcome Corporal Detective James B. Stanley as SAVE #2080, to The Safariland Group SAVES CLUB®. Of note: This is The Safariland Group’s first recorded save with Hardwire armor.