Posted on May 1, 2015
John Talakte, of Diamondback Police Supply Co., said he thought the name “Mennen” was familiar. He had read about a law enforcement officer who was shot in the line of duty and thought to himself, “I think we fitted this guy out about six months ago.”
He was right.
Greenlee County Sheriff’s deputy Jon Mennen and Clifton Police officer Jason Mingura were both shot in the line of duty in Morenci in January.
Mennen’s body armor saved his life. Of the two .40-caliber slugs that hit him, one struck him in the stomach, which was protected by the vest. Three months later, Mennen still has a large bruise and a lump on his stomach where one of the hollow-point rounds struck.
“There’s no doubt he wouldn’t have lived if it hadn’t been for that vest armor he was wearing,” Greenlee County Sheriff Larry Avila said. “Especially getting hit with a hollow-point; that bullet would have done some very serious internal damage.”
On Thursday, April 30, a new vest was presented to Mennen by John Ringo, of Point Blank Body Armor, the company that made the vest Mennen was wearing the night he was shot. The presentation was made at a luncheon at the Sheriff’s Office in Clifton.
Ringo said Point Blank was providing Mennen’s armor at no cost.
“That’s a policy we have,” he said. “But more than anything, we’re glad the armor did its job and officer Mennen is still with us. We’re glad our equipment did what it’s supposed to do.”
Talatke’s company supplies Point Blank vests to law enforcement agencies.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety, which is conducting an investigation into the shooting, still has possession of Mennen’s armor. Avila said he expects the investigation’s findings to be released soon.
Mennen and Mingura were on patrol on the night of Jan. 26. It was close to midnight. Driving in separate vehicles, they encountered Chris Ingram, 29, on U.S. Highway 191 in Morenci. According to initial reports, Ingram exited his vehicle and began shooting at the officers. They returned fire and Ingram was fatally wounded.
Mennen was shot in the stomach and shoulder, while Mingura was shot in the left hand. Both were immediately flown to a Tucson hospital, and each returned home in less than a week.
Mennen returned to light duty in March. He said he has been undergoing physical therapy and hopes to soon be able to begin weight training to strengthen his shoulder. Clifton Police Chief Omar Negrete said it will be at least several months before Mingura will be able to return to light duty and probably about a year before Mingura returns to active duty.
Ringo said arrangements will be made for Mennen to visit Point Blank’s manufacturing plant in Pompano Beach, Fla. “The point is for our people to meet someone for whom their work made a difference – a difference between life and death. We believe that goes a long way in our people knowing just how important their work is,” Ringo said.
Along with the vest and a large glass-plated plaque from Point Blank, the Morenci Fire Association presented Mennen with a shadow box containing an American flag and “A Cop’s Prayer” inscribed in it.
“I’m deeply grateful to everybody,” Mennen said. “I’m just real happy to be here.”
Deputy Jon Mennen was wearing a Point Blank Hi-Lite vest with XPIIIA ballistic system at the time of the shooting.
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