Donations will help law enforcement agencies in Colorado by providing protective gear and armor for both human and K9 officers. $112,000 donated anonymously to Denver Police.
Across the state of Colorado, law enforcement and local police departments have been getting support from the community, as well as working to give back. These donations have helped provide much-needed tactical and protective gear for officers and first responders, including some canine officers.
Police officers in Denver were gifted with free protective earlier this week, courtesy of an anonymous donor. Shield 616 is a local charity group that provides officers with all-day rifle protection armor and have donated to departments in 19 states so far—the charity has provided armor to over 3,500 first responders, to date. They were able to donate protective armor kits to the Denver Police Department after an anonymous stranger donated $112,000 for the cause.
The Shield 616 kits contain protective gear for police, peace officers, and first responders—including ceramic ballistic armor plates, vests, and helmets. Each set of full armor costs $2,100 per officer and $2,300 for firefighter armor, which is not something local police departments can always afford. So far this month, Denver Police have had three incidents in which officers were fired on, so they are grateful for the support and the extra safety gear.
Earlier in August, the Jefferson County Sherriff's Office was given 28 sets of the rifle rated ballistic kits through Shield 616; funds were raised through a telethon and a matching donation from the Jefferson County Sherriff's Office Foundation. The telethon raised $50,000 for the department back in April.
Sheild 616 hopes to equip as many first responders in the state as possible with this gear and works to replace the gear every five years.
In Larimer County, a canine officer with the Larimer County Sherriff's Office will be outfitted with a protective vest that is both bullet and stab-proof thanks to a local couple’s donation through a local nonprofit. Cindy and Jerry Runta from Fort Collins made the donation through the nonprofit group Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., which works to provide protective gear for canine officers. The vests can cost over $2,000, and a single donation to the nonprofit of $950 will cover one vest.
This vest will go to K9 Officer Tyr, a Belgian Malinois. The Larimer County Sheriff’s office also received a donation earlier in August through Vested Interest in K9s, a Dutch Shepard K9 Officer named Dox was named as the receipt of another protective vest. Each vest is embroidered with a personal message and is expected to be delivered in about eight weeks.
Deputy Mitch McGuinnis and K9 Tyr | Courtesy of the Larimer County Sherriff's Office
Morgan County law enforcement officers were feeling the love a few weeks ago when they held a fundraiser for the Special Olympics. The "Tip a Cop" fundraiser raised more than $5,700 in its second year ever, with the help of Fort Morgan Police Department and other Fort Morgan County law enforcement officers. They, along with Special Olympics athletes, waited on tables at the Country Steak-Out restaurant in Fort Morgan. A silent auction was held as well, and the event raised a sizeable donation that will benefit the Special Olympics program.
Over in Pueblo, Colorado, a volunteer group donated $28,000 to the Pueblo Police Department that was raised through the "Back the Blue" golf tournament held this past June. The department was able to purchase protective gear for officers, a new drone, bicycles, as well as an ATV and some other items for the department. The Pueblo Police Department and the Pueblo County Sherriff’s Office have also received donations this past year from Shield 616 as they work to outfit all officers with this protective gear.
The donations to help local law enforcement benefit the officers and the community by keeping these dedicated men, women, and canines safe while they are out there in the line of duty. Have you heard of any other local police departments and law enforcement officers in Colorado receiving donations or working to raise money for a charitable cause? We want to hear about the community coming together in this way, so share with us in the comments below.
