Fox Corrects False Report On Obama Police Equipment Ban

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

Fox co-host Steve Doocy issued a correction on Fox News' Fox & Friends, noting that he misreported that the Obama administration was trying to take away Kevlar helmets from police. Discussing the Orlando shooting on June 13, Doocy claimed the Obama administration was “pushing to take away life-saving armor like” Kevlar helmets from police. However, the administration's policy does not include prohibiting Kevlar helmets. On June 14, Doocy corrected his point from the prior day, saying the helmets are “not the exact items on the administration's banned list.” From the June 14 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends:

STEVE DOOCY (CO-HOST): Fox News alert. We're getting our first look at the police officer who took a bullet to the head in the Orlando shoot-out only to be saved by his Kevlar helmet. Look at that.

AINSLEY EARHARDT (CO-HOST): Officer Michael Napolitano showing some cuts on his head as you can see because of the blood on his head, from a few stitches after the Kevlar helmet did stop that fatal shot that ultimately saved his life. 

DOOCY: It did indeed. We told you yesterday the Obama administration has been pushing the end federal funding for military-style equipment used by local police departments. To be clear, these are not the exact items on the administration's banned list. The plan is just an overall effort to improve the image of police in the aftermath of the Ferguson riots.