The Cortez Police Department has 29 new rifle-rated vests, thanks to the work of community collaboratives. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Choice Building Supply and Hospice of Montezuma.
Cortez Police Department - Police | Cortez, CO - Official Website
Shield 616 - Shield 616 – Protecting Our Protectors
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Cortez police officers are now safer while serving. You're watching the, "Local News Network," brought to you by Choice Building Supply and Hospice of Montezuma, I'm Connor Shreve. A community coalition led by a nonprofit, SHIELD616, raised money to buy the Angel Armor rifle-rated protection.
Yes, these new vests are a much higher level of protection than what we currently wear. They're actually rated for rifle rounds and we got to see a live demonstration of that. So it was awesome to see. They'll catch multiple rounds, which is very impressive technology. So it's top of the line equipment.
Jake Skifstad founded SHIELD616, after the Planned Parenthood shooting nine years ago, to help police departments around the state buy the vests. He wanted to honor the on-duty killing of Cortez Officer Michael Moran in 2023.
With what they went through within the last year, you know, we just wanted to get down here, into Southern Colorado, more than what we have been. And obviously, seeing what they just walked through, you know, we just thought, you know what, for this year's bike ride, we will typically focus on one main agency. We'll get other ones that we donate towards.
Officers Tyler Smith and Jason Giacchino helped raise money by riding in the Tour de Shield, a four day, 273 mile bike tour across the state. Smith says it's like nothing he's ever done.
The other riders there, there were a few law enforcement, but mostly it was just other riders that love to ride their bike and love to get involved with causes like this. So it was a very group oriented, everyone was very supportive and there for you. So it was an amazing experience.
The tour raised more than $188,000 and resulted in 29 new vests for the Cortez PD, a game changer for officers.
It's just a whole 'nother level of protection for the officers, and in that sense, also confidence, being able to know that, you know, we're protected at a higher level than we were before, and able to do our jobs that much more effectively.
Officers Smith and Giacchino began their journey nearly a year ago with lots of trail and road miles in the months between. To see it come to fruition is gratifying.
It's awesome to see it finally all come together. You know, Jason and I road a lot of miles and did a lot of fundraising, but the whole department and community came together as a whole. So it's great to see all that, and very proud, you know, to be a part of it.
Cortez and five other Colorado Police Departments benefited from the 2024 campaign. Learn more about this story and others at montezumalocal.news. Thank you for watching this edition of the, "Local News Network," I'm Connor Shreve.
