November 1, 2019, Patrolman Jantzen Duran of the New Mexico State Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling 106 miles per hour in a 60 mile per hour zone. After making the initial contact with the driver, Patrolman Duran returned to his vehicle to fill out the citation. The driver exited his vehicle and began to approach Patrolman Duran.
The driver failed to obey commands to stay at the front of the unit. As Patrolman Duran was exiting his vehicle to deal with the situation, the driver ran around the open door and stabbed Patrolman Duran in the head with a box cutter. They both fell back into the patrol car and then the driver stabbed Patrolman Duran in the chest. The blade went through his uniform shirt and into his armor. Patrolman Duran’s Safariland Model SX02 Level II armor stopped the blade from penetrating his chest. As they fought, Patrolman Duran was able to draw his duty weapon and fire one shot.
There was then a struggle over the firearm before Patrolman was able to gain control of the assailant and take him into custody. In Patrolman Duran’s own words “I served in the United States Air Force for 21 years and have several combat tours but found myself fighting for my life on the side of the road in Alamogordo, New Mexico.”
The assailant’s wound proved fatal. Patrolman Duran was treated for the wounds to his head. Due to his armor, there were no wounds to his torso.
We welcome Patrolman Jantzen Duran SAVE #2069, to The Safariland Group SAVES CLUB®.
