By now, we’ve all seen the photo of the ballistic helmet that saved Orlando SWAT officer Michael Napolitano during the shootout with an Islamic terrorist at the Pulse nightclub a few weeks ago. Now, we know that the helmet was a Batlskin Viper A3, manufactured by Revision in their Newport, Vermont factory on July 29, 2014.
This version of the Batlskin Viper A3 has the midcut ‘Gunfighter’ geometry applied to an ACH style shell. Looking at the photo, the helmet was obviously fitted with a one-hole night vision shroud which was sheared off from the impact of the projectile. It is a NIJ level IIIA helmet made from aramid and was fielded with an ACH-style four-point chinstrap and proprietary pads.
As you can see, Officer Napolitano was injured, but the important point is that he survived. Events like this remond us why Law enforcement officers need access to personal protective equipment, since their jobs are inherently dangerous. Hopefully, they’ll monitor him for TBI.
Tags: Revision Military
Oh man, that left a mark! Both forehead and helmet! Had to be one hell of a headache.
So glad he survived, had this life saving equipment and is able to be with family and friends and he now has a cool keepsake.
Any word on whether it was 9mm or .223 that the helmet stopped? Or the range that it was fired from?
The damage looks similar to when we shot an old PASGT helmet with 9mm.
No one has said.
Thank god for that helmet, and let’s pray for no TBI
Haven’t I read anti-militarization of police rants here on the site before? Where are those people?
Scarfing down the plates of Totino’s Pizza Rolls their moms feed them to keep them in their basements…
i mean i can be that guy and do a stupid rant on how cops are too militarized but only if you want
Stop the militarization of the police. Amiright? … No? I just see myself out then.
In this case, they squashed somebody that needed to be squashed with the right equipment for the job. Rather than a marijuana seller or gambler. Big difference
Yeah, because Drug dealers and “white collar criminals” like your vague “gambler” whatever that means would never, ever, ever, try to preserve themselves if they were going for the big time?! Liberal much?? OUT.
Swat Team OK. Guy pulling me over for 5 miles over limit doesn’t need to be wearing Multicam Black or ATACS-LE with assault vest. Feel better?
There it is…
Granted MC Black is overly aggressive. Every time I see it I go to my safe space.
Guys on motorcycles must scare you. You must hit your door locks every time a Black or Latino guy walks by while you’re at a stop light. You must have anxiety attacks every time a beautiful woman happens to walk up next to you to order a drink while you are wallowing in your sorrows at the local watering hole.
But, I feel as though you were being sarcastic and facetious. Carry on.
Sounds like a bunch of pu55ies on here, huh?
That was def not a 556 round. If a 556 round impacted his helmet officer napoitanos head would of exploded. That was 9mm. And even with 9mm it was a close call. Lucky hes alive.
The shooter was using a Glock 17, and a Sig Sauer MCX. The round that struck him was a 9mm.
Wonder if it had a NOD mount in place
It did, like I said in the article.