KRDO partners with Shield616 to outfit officers in Pueblo

Protecting the Protectors.

The idea came to Jake Skifstad, on the beat. It was not long after becoming an officer with the Colorado Springs Police Department, that he saw — first-hand — assailants armed with high-caliber weapons.

“One thing that we all took notice of, was his weapon of choice,” said Skifstad, recalling the New Life Church shooting in 2007.

But then, another mass shooting. This time, at Planned Parenthood. Skifstad responded as a member of the SWAT team, protected with high-caliber ballistic gear. The first responders, weren’t.

“Our ‘true first responders’ our patrol officers, our men and women — not the SWAT team — I just couldn’t help but think, they have no protection against this threat,” said Skifstad.

Standard-issue bullet-proof vests can only withstand bullets from a handgun.

Since then, Skifstad has launched Shield616, a non-profit organization, that provides kits to law enforcement officers: high-caliber vests, ballistic helmets, and first aid kits. Donations have provided nearly 3,000 officers in 18 states have already received the potentially life-saving gear since 2015.

Now that all law enforcement officers in El Paso County — the so-called epicenter of Shield616 — have received their gear, attention turns to members of the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office and Pueblo Police Department.

With your help, all 400 officers will receive the protective kits. It will cost an estimated $600,000.

Between now and the “Protect the Protectors” Telethon, February 7th, you can make a tax-deductible donation, by clicking on this link.