August 7, 2023 |
Photo – Body armor – Courtesy Shield616.org
An anonymous, out-of-state benefactor has offered to buy new body armor for the Saratoga Police Department.
At last Tuesday’s Saratoga town council meeting, Police Chief Mike Morris told the council he received an unsolicited online message from a Colorado resident. Chief Morris said the unnamed woman has offered to supply body armor for Saratoga police officers though a non-profit organization called Shield 616.
The Shield 616 website states that the organization was, “founded to provide all-day rifle protection for first responders who sacrificially serve our communities.” Chief Morris said he contacted the non-profit about receiving two Vel Tye tactical vests.
As reported by Bigfoot99 in June, Chief Morris applied for a Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership grant to help cover the cost of new body armor. Last Tuesday, Chief Morris told the Saratoga town council that the grant and the Shield 616 donation would both be used to provide the town’s police officers with rifle rated body armor.
Chief Morris said he didn’t know how the Colorado woman had gotten his contact information. The woman has family in law enforcement and wanted to contribute to the safety of officers, the chief said. . Mayor Chuck Davis asked how the mysterious donor had contacted the Saratoga PD.
Chief Morris said Shield 616 is hosting the 2023 Colorado Border to Border Bicycle Ride next month. Money raised during the charity bike ride will be used to buy bullet-proof vests for law enforcement agencies across Colorado. Chief Morris said Saratoga police officers are invited to a special ceremony in Walden, Colorado.
Mayor Davis told Chief Morris to send the town council’s gratitude to the unknown benefactor. Chief Morris said the Colorado woman may not want her name to be known.
Chief Morris said he will send a thank you letter to the anonymous donor of the body armor.
