Vest, Conditioning May Have Saved Officer Meoli's Life

He could have easily been killed, but less than twelve hours after Tredyffrin Township Police Officer Larry Meoli was hit by a speeding Porsche, thrown into the air, and slammed into the windshield of the car, he was able to leave the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and go home to recover with his family.

One detective told Patch there must have been guardian angels watching out for him. The department's new chief says Meoli had two other things going for him as well: physical conditioning and his bullet-proof vest.

Tredyffrin Police Superintendent Anthony Giaimo says Meoli was wearing his ballistic vest which may have helped absorb some of the force of the impact as Officer Meoli's body was slammed into the sports car's windshield. Giaimo says Meoli's physical conditioning was also important.

"Larry going into this was at a high level of physical fitness." the chief tells TE Patch, "we try to keep our officers at a high level of fitness. His ballistic vest, I believe played a very large part in this and we do have the top level ballistic vests and it's important for these situations."

Meoli, who is the department's community liason officer, is a popular figure within the department and the community at large. Chief Giaimo says the 26 year veteran officer has been buoyed by the outpouring of support from the community. "We've all been in very close contact with him and his family, " Giaimo says. "They're very appreciative of the huge community outpouring."

The outcome could have been a lot worse. The chief says "he's very, very sore, he'll need some follow-up medical (care) but thank God he's doing the best that he can from such a strike with a vehicle."

Officer Meoli will be at home recupperating for "a little while, until he gets medical clearance to come back," Giaimo says. In the meantime his co-workers are just glad he was not seriously hurt, or worse.

Giaimo says an incident like this is a sobering reminder for first responders and the community. "There's a realization that each and every day we go out there, there are dangers," Giaimo says.

You can sign an electronic get-well card for officer Meoli right now.