JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Safariland®, a brand of The Safariland Group, a leading global provider of safety products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets and one of Cadre Holdings, Inc.’s (NYSE: CDRE) (“Cadre”) key brands, announced the release of a new Safariland Saves Club® video featuring Sergeant Mauricio Valle of the Houston Police Department, recognized as Save #2233.

On December 2, 2023, Sgt. Valle was conducting surveillance from his vehicle when he was ambushed by an assailant armed with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun. During the attack, Sgt. Valle sustained multiple gunshot wounds to both arms and both legs, while additional rounds impacted his Safariland® SX™ SX02 Level IIIA armor and Safariland® plates worn in a Safariland® SHIFT 360™ system, including impacts to the cummerbund.

Despite his injuries, Sgt. Valle remained in the fight. As the assailant moved around the vehicle and approached the driver's side, Sgt. Valle exited his vehicle and returned fire, ending the threat.

Responding officers immediately applied tourniquets to Sgt. Valle's arms and legs before he was transported to the hospital for treatment. Following his recovery, Sgt. Valle returned to full duty with the Houston Police Department.

“Sergeant Valle's story represents the courage and commitment demonstrated by law enforcement officers every day,” said James Duncan, Vice President and General Manager of Global Armor for Safariland. “The Safariland Saves Club exists to recognize the men and women who have faced extraordinary circumstances in the line of duty. We are honored to welcome Sgt. Valle as Save #2233 and grateful that he is able to share his story.”

In the newly released video, Sgt. Valle recounts the events of the ambush and his experience surviving an encounter that unfolded in a matter of seconds. His story provides a firsthand perspective on the realities officers can face in the line of duty and the importance of being prepared when those moments occur.

Watch Sergeant Mauricio Valle's Safariland Saves Club story here.

For more than five decades, the Safariland Saves Club® has recognized law enforcement officers whose Safariland armor or equipment contributed to protecting them from serious injury or death in the line of duty. Sgt. Valle joins thousands of officers whose stories serve as a reminder of the risks faced by those who protect their communities.

About Safariland Armor: Safarilandâ Armor continues to set the standard in ballistic protection by continually developing cutting-edge body armor designs to provide its customers with high-performance, life-saving armor products. With a focus on advanced engineering and production techniques, the Safariland Armor brand is known for its proprietary designs and use of next generation materials to develop the thinnest, lightest, most advanced ballistic protection against a wide array of standard and special threats. For more information, visit www.safariland.com/pages/safariland-armor.

The Safariland PROTECHâ line offers industry-leading tactical gear most coveted by tactical teams throughout the world. The product line includes a wide selection of field proven and cutting-edge products including ballistic shields, armor plates, helmets, and other accessories for unparalleled head to toe protection. For more information, visit www.safariland.com/collections/hard-armor. Safariland is a part of The Safariland Group family of brands.  

About The Safariland Group: The Safariland Group is a leading global provider of a broad range of safety and survivability products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets. The Safariland Group offers a number of recognized brand names in these markets including Safariland® Armor, Duty Gear and Communications, Bianchi®, Break Free®, Hatch®, Med-Eng®, Identicator® and NIK®. The Safariland Group's mission, “Together, We Save Lives®,” is inherent in the lifesaving and protective products it delivers. The Safariland Group is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. The Safariland Group is a trade name of Safariland, LLC.