Shield 616 branches out of Colorado to meet law enforcement equipment need

We’ve partnered with Shield 616 to raise money for Pueblo Police and county deputies to give them life-saving gear.

Police shootings are increasingly affecting local communities, and it’s a topic Colorado Springs is too familiar with as we approach the year anniversary of Dep. Micah Flick’s death.

“Whether it’s Colorado, Texas, New York City, California, I think the same situations face our officers that work the streets there as well,” said Capt. Leroy Mora with the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.

You can even hear the panic through the 911 traffic when Deputy Micah Flick was shot nearly one year ago.

“Get me medical here now, I’ve got an officer down,” the officers shouted.

Jake Skifstad created Shield 616 with the idea that the same community officers and deputies are helping can help them.

“We expect them to protect us against whatever threat comes to this community and we think it’s only appropriate that they’re protected from all of those threats and that they get to go home at the end of their shift,” Skifstad said.

He brought in armor with silver circles marking the areas where the vest stopped bullets from hitting an officer. He says the gun was fired just one foot away from the body.

Shield 616 started in Colorado but is branching out to other states.

“We’re in 18 different states. It is so important for us to network, it’s important to get the opportunity to get that word out there,” Skifstad said.

That’s also why Shield 616 partnered with Ford and Arvada Police for a commercial that aired during the Super Bowl.

“It’s pretty awesome to have a commercial air during the super bowl talking about the need for supporting our officers and it was extra special yesterday,” Skifstad said.