The end of January found us in Las Vegas, Nevada for the 2011 SHOT Show. What is a SHOT Show you ask? - me too! The SHOT Show is an annual tradeshow for the shooting, hunting, and firearms industry. It's the biggest event of this type in the world. Now what in the world were we doing here you ask?
Well ... way back when, February 3rd of 1976 to be exact, when Dick was working for the Colorado Springs Police Department he was shot while on a burglary call. The vest he was wearing saved his life and was purchased from Safariland (makers of the vest). Roll forward 35 years later ....
When we were in Florida in July of 2010, Dick was contacted by Ed Hinchey of Safariland asking if they could come to Idaho and interview him for a film they were making. Dick was the FIRST SAVE with a Safariland vest and they wanted to honor him during the 2011 SHOT Show in Las Vegas.
So, in October of 2010 our living room was turned into a small movie set, with our esteemed producer Ace Underhill and Monte Moore, our director / graphic person, and, of course, our star - Mr. Dick Sheehan, along with technical adviser Ed Hinchey and minor starlets Ms. Jo Sheehan and Harley Davidson Dawg.
Monte Moore & Dick
Monte Moore
After setting up and shooting for a couple of hours, we headed off for lunch and then back for some more filming. Ed took us out to dinner, to include Sean and his family. We had a great time and learned a lot about the film business. Ed presented Dick with the coveted Safariland SAVES Coin - the one you are always happy to receive cause that means you survived!
It was a little embarrassing tho when someone else has to explain to your son why his father is receiving this coin.
We said goodby to Ed, Ace and Monte (p. s. Monte grew up in Nampa and now lives in Colorado Springs) not knowing what the finished film would look like but anxious to see it all the same.
Arrangements were made and in January we flew to Las Vegas, taking the good weather with us. We arrived on Tuesday the 18th, got settled into our room, and headed for the SHOT Show to find Ed. I felt like we had checked into a "high roller" room - it was beautiful, with the most wonderful view of the mountains, the strip and Trump tower.
Tuesday evening we had dinner with Neale Perkins. In 1964, following his father's request for a custom holster, Neale Perkins launched a holster business from his garage in Sierra Madre, California. He named his new company after the African safaris he and his father enjoyed together. From these humble beginnings, Safariland quickly went from making a few hundred holsters to more than 5,000 within a few months.
Neale was Dick's original contact with Safariland way back in 1976. Neale flew him out to Safariland headquarters in California at which time he made an 8mm home movie of Dick and Neale's dog in Neale's backyard. Dick was the FIRST SAVE with one of Neale's vests. It was a trip that Dick remembers to this day.
We had a ball at dinner with Neale - telling us stories and a few tall tales; Neale is truly a special man and we look forward to our continued friendship with him.
Wednesday Dick spent the morning at the SHOT Show and I went and did a little shopping, walked the strip, and came back and had my toes pampered. We were meeting a friend of mine from high school for dinner and I was really excited. Carol (Graves) and her husband Fred Beitler showed up around 7:00 and we headed to the Grand Lux Cafe in the Palazzo for dinner. It was so much fun catching up that I FORGOT TO TAKE PICTURES!! I can't believe it!
Thursday morning we met Ed and the rest of the SAVES Club members in the restaurant for breakfast. Then it was on to the SHOT Show where the formal presentation was to take place at 2:00 PM. There were three officers (including Dick) to be honored; the other two were Britt Sweeney from the Seattle WA PD and and Al Fong from the Saginaw MI PD.
Here is an excerpt from the presentation:
A cold February night in 1976 marks the date that Richard (Dick) Sheehan’s life was saved by his Safariland vest. It was 11:52 p.m., and as a patrolman for the City of Colorado Springs, Colorado Police Department, Dick observed two individuals behind a local business. When they started to run, Dick exited his patrol car and began pursuing them around the corner of the building, where he lost sight of the individuals. That’s when he was shot in the back twice by a .22 cal rifle. The Safariland vest that he was wearing saved his life that night.
Officer Britt Sweeney, Seattle Police Department, had been on the job just seven months when she and her Field Training Officer were ambushed by an assailant who was wanted for firebombing several police cars. It was Oct. 31, 2009 and as Officer Sweeney and her partner were pulled off the highway writing reports, the assailant pulled along side and opened fire with a .223 rifle. Sweeney’s partner was killed instantly, and Officer Sweeney was struck on her ABA Xtreme HP across the back/shoulder area. She was able to radio for help and exit the vehicle where she returned fire striking the vehicle of the assailant who was later taken into custody.
Officer Al Fong, Saginaw Michigan Police Department, was executing a narcotics raid on Oct. 30, 2010 with his tactical team when the suspect opened fire. Officer Fong was struck in his chest with two rounds. His PROTECH armor defeated the rounds and the team returned fire striking the suspect, who was then taken into custody without further incident.
“We are honored and extremely happy to bring together one of our very first Saves as well as two of our more recent Saves,” said Ed Hinchey, Safariland Saves Club liaison, and himself a member of the Saves program. “Nothing reflects the spirit of Safariland and its people more than the Safariland Saves Club and its long tradition of honoring those who protect us. With each product we make, we put emphasis on protecting the lives of those who use them.”It was a very emotional presentation for all officers and their families, as well as members of the audience.
Al Fong ... Ed Hinchey ... Britt Sweeney ... Dick Sheehan
After all the excitement of the afternoon, we joined the Safariland team and the other SAVES members for dinner at the Dal Toro Ristorante. Sitting next to Rich Shafer, VP of Marketing, and across from Scott O'Brien, President of Safariland, I got quite the lesson in ordering fine wines. I did tell them I would settle for Annie Green Springs but they weren't too impressed lol.
What a FUN FUN FUN week! If you would like to see more photos, PLEASE CLICK HERE. I tried to load the video but it was taking waaaayyyyy toooo lonnnnnggggg, so to see the STAR you'll have to come to the Sheehans for movie night!
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