For the second time in 24 hours, a police officer was shot and possibly saved when the bullet hit the badge they were wearing. Earlier, we reported about the amazing incident in Huntington Beach, California and now we see a similar incident in Nevada.
A Nevada Highway Patrol trooper’s badge might have protected him from serious harm during a shootout that left a suspect dead early Friday.
At least one bullet fired by the suspect struck the trooper’s badge, NHP spokeswoman Chelsea Stuenkel said, adding that she wasn’t sure whether he was wearing a protective vest. The Highway Patrol tweeted a photo of the apparently bent badge along with the message, “We are grateful the Trooper went home safe to his family.”
The incident began as a traffic stop shortly after midnight on Boulder Highway near U.S. 95. The trooper had pulled over a car driven by a woman and occupied by the suspect and another man, Stuenkel said.
A chase ensued, and the suspect fled and then began to shoot, prompting the trooper to return fire. The suspect was killed in the exchange.
The Nevada Highway Patrol posted the following on their Facebook Page, “Last night shortly after midnight a NHP Trooper conducted a traffic stop on Boulder Hwy and US95. A suspect fled from the vehicle on foot and the suspect and Trooper exchanged gunfire. The Trooper was struck on his badge and the suspect was killed during the exchange. We are extremely grateful our Trooper was uninjured and went home safely. Also thank you to the community, fellow officers and the media for reaching out to NHP with well wishes for our Trooper and NHP Southern Command.”
