The account arrives as Fort Worth applies for state funding to add bullet-resistant components to more patrol vehicles.
FORT WORTH, TX — A Fort Worth police officer who survived a shootout in 2025 says bullet-resistant glass in his patrol car stopped gunfire that could have killed him, an interview published Friday said. The officer, identified as Officer Lorenzo Burrell, said the reinforced window kept rounds from entering the driver’s compartment during the exchange.
Burrell’s experience has become a centerpiece in Fort Worth’s push to outfit more cruisers with ballistic windshields and side glass. The department has been adding the protections in phases and has asked for state grant support this year as Texas opens a new funding round for vehicle armor. City officials say the goal is to reduce injuries in the first seconds of an ambush or traffic-stop assault, when officers are most exposed. The statewide program, created by lawmakers last year, set aside money for agencies to retrofit existing fleets and equip new vehicles now on order.
In the interview, Burrell recalled responding to a call when a suspect opened fire on his marked unit. “Thankful to have the bullet-resistant glass. I know for a fact that it saved me from getting shot,” he said. The incident occurred in 2025 in Fort Worth; police said the chain of events began with a separate call that escalated into gunfire. The rounds struck the windshield area near the driver’s side. Investigators processed the scene and collected shell casings after the exchange, according to the department. Burrell was evaluated and released without serious injury. The suspect’s full case details were not immediately available, and police have not released additional identifying information about that person’s medical status or prosecutorial disposition.
Fort Worth officials say the department began installing ballistic glass on select patrol units and specialized vehicles before last year and plans to expand the fleet coverage. The city has referenced a statewide grant program that expects to make $5 million available in the current fiscal year for bullet-resistant components in law enforcement vehicles. The funding is open to municipal police departments, sheriff’s offices and other agencies that employ Texas peace officers. Local governments submit the applications and must include authorizing resolutions. Fort Worth’s proposal, discussed this month, would add more armored windshields and side glass to high-use patrol cars. Officials said the protection is designed to defeat common handgun calibers; exact specifications vary by vendor and order.
Officer safety advocates point to recent Texas cases in which ballistic glass prevented deaths or serious injuries. In one 2025 incident, a deputy survived after multiple rifle rounds struck a patrol windshield; the sheriff’s office credited recently installed glass for the outcome. A nonprofit effort known as Operation Safe Shield has also campaigned to harden patrol vehicles, citing ambushes where officers were hit through windshields or side windows. Those cases helped spur legislative attention, culminating in a dedicated state grant and a wave of city-level applications as agencies seek to retrofit their fleets. Fort Worth’s program is among the largest in North Texas and includes both marked cruisers and tactical units.
The city’s grant application is part of a broader procurement calendar that aligns with the state’s fiscal-year timeline. If awarded, funds would be used to purchase and install ballistic windshields, side glass and related components on prioritized vehicles. Local purchasing rules require council approval for contracts, and deliveries typically arrive in batches based on manufacturer capacity. Police administrators said training is underway to brief officers on the limits of ballistic glass, including how many impacts a pane can absorb and how to use the vehicle as cover while communicating and coordinating backup. No charges or court dates tied to Burrell’s 2025 case were listed in public court schedules as of Tuesday; police said case updates would come through standard releases.
Residents who heard the 2025 gunfire described a chaotic few minutes followed by a heavy police presence. “We saw the squad cars rush in and then everything went quiet,” said Marcus Ellis, who lives near the corridor where officers converged. Another neighbor, Angela Cortez, said she later noticed pockmarks on a roadside sign and realized how close the shooting came to traffic. “It’s unsettling, but I’m glad the officer went home,” Cortez said. At a recent council briefing, a Fort Worth police commander said the upgraded glass is one layer in a larger safety plan that also involves lighting, cameras and radio upgrades. “Our aim is to buy time and reduce injuries in the opening moments of an attack,” the commander said.
As of Tuesday, Fort Worth’s application remained in the state review pipeline, with awards expected on the current fiscal-year schedule. The department said it would announce installation timelines after contracts are finalized. Burrell has returned to duty. His account continues to circulate inside the department as an example of why the program is expanding, even as investigators have not released further details about the 2025 shooter or case status.
Author note: Last updated January 20, 2026.