Save – (verb) definition:
- Keep safe or rescue (someone or something) from harm or danger. (Oxford)
- To preserve or guard from injury, destruction, or loss. (Merriam-Webster)
For Safariland, a SAVE denotes someone whose life has been protected in the line of duty. These individuals are often selfless, humble, and full of integrity. They obviously cherish their SAVE, and most take pride in being part of the SAVES Club—the collective group of all SAVES made possible by gear bearing the Safariland logo.
There are currently just over 2,200 SAVES accredited to Safariland products. After each SAVE is confirmed through interviews and inspection of the gear, the first responder is inducted into the SAVES Club at a very special presentation surrounded by Safariland personnel, the first responder’s family, and colleagues. Ed Hinchey leads these presentations as the head of the SAVES Club, a SAVES member himself, and is the epitome of what the Club stands for.
SAVES Presentation for Det. Sontag
I had the privilege of attending a SAVES presentation that had been a year in the making. It began on April 20, 2024, with the shooting death of a deputy in a neighboring agency, which set in motion a series of events that ultimately saved the lives of two other officers attempting to apprehend the suspect.
Detective Josh Sontag of the Boise Police Department, a member of the Special Operations Unit, was deployed to locate and take the suspect into custody. Sgt. Joe Andreoli was also deployed, using a ballistic shield to provide cover for the team. Thanks to the shield deflecting a round, both officers returned home to their families that night.
Sgt. Andreoli received his SAVES presentation later in 2024, with Detective Sontag in the audience. However, Sontag was not initially recognized as part of the same SAVE. After reviewing the details, the SAVES Club corrected the oversight. The modest Sontag’s SAVE didn’t take center stage until this summer, earning him the recognition he deserved—SAVE #2239.
Being a part of the small audience for such an event is one I will never forget, especially since I was raised in a law enforcement family. Replaying some of the details from that night, a night that most all in that room already knew all too well—Detective Sontag stood stoically.
Also in attendance was his wife, her face full of restrained emotion, reliving that night and the days that followed. I can’t imagine the emotions they felt, but Ed emphasized how each team member returned home because of their coordinated actions, and the image clicked into place.
Most can appreciate the dedication and selflessness of first responders, but the aftermath of a SAVES event involves gratitude, guilt, fear, and anxiety—emotions that must be processed. I have the privilege of documenting these stories firsthand and have heard all of these emotions expressed. This event, however, was next level and profoundly moving..
Each inductee receives a personalized package of products from Safariland. Because training is essential for every officer, the SAVE receives an embroidered range bag. Josh also received a baseball hat, an engraved Night Stick, an engraved insulated coffee mug, embroidered polo shirts for himself, and special SAVES shirts for his family. The shirts are particularly meaningful, as the back lists all SAVES from the same year—53 in total last year.
Additionally, Josh received a plaque inscribed with the line: “We salute your heroic courage and valor in the line of duty.” The Boise Police Department received an identical plaque to pay homage to the rest of the team that was with Joe and Josh that night. The cherry on top is the SAVES Challenge coin, symbolizing the dedication to the job and the sacrifice all first responders possess.
Safariland goes further to show appreciation. Depending on the product that helped preserve their life, the member receives a replacement every five years they remain with their agency. For this SAVE, Detective Sontag and the Boise Police Department will receive a new ballistic shield to commemorate the event.
Detective Sontag’s quiet but solid presence is a testament to the strength of his community, from his family and friends to his LE family, and even his SAVES family. “Together we save lives” isn’t just a slogan; it’s an integral principle behind every Safariland product, and in the end, each life it touches.
