On May 14, twenty-five cyclists arrived at the
First Baptist Church in Hudson after biking
98.5 miles from Colorado Springs. After
enjoying a cold shower and hot meal, they
spent the night at the church before biking
62.1 miles to the Cache la Poudre Valley near
Ft. Collins, where they spent the night of May
On May 16, they biked 83.2 miles from Ft.
Collins down to Littleton, and then on May
17 they completed the loop by biking 66.1
miles back to Colorado Springs. This year the
cyclists had to endure heat, but in years past
they’ve biked through wind and snow. These
athletes know that May in Colorado can bring
it all.
Why would these cyclists put themselves
through such an ordeal?
They are raising funds for Shield616, an
organization dedicated to providing high
performance body armor to first responder
units throughout the nation.
Shield616 was founded in 2015 by Jake
Skifstad. A veteran of law enforcement,
Skifstad has lived through two mass shooting
events. The first was the December 2007
New Life Church shooting, in which gunman
Matthew Murray opened fire on the
congregation before being shot by security
guard Jeanne Assam. https://www.foxnews.
com / story/colora do-church-gun man-hadgrudge-
aga inst-ch ristia n-grou p-cops-say
Skifstad was also present at the Planned
Parenthood attack in Colorado Springs on
November 27, 2015. During the attack,
shooter Robert Dear engaged in a five-hour
standoff during which he injured nine people
and killed two people accompanying friends
to the clinic. The shooter also killed Officer
Garrett Swasey, a campus officer in the area
who had responded after hearing of an active
shooter nearby. https://www.foxnews.com/
us /s us pect-colora do-p I an n ed-pa re nth oodshooting-
dies-federal-custody
As a SWAT team member responding
to both horrific crimes, Skifstad knew that,
while SWAT teams have high quality armor,
normal police officers often to do not.
Officers are typically issued “soft armor;’
which only protects against certain lesspowerful
rounds and does nothing to protect
against rifle fire or shotgun blasts. However,
at over $2000 per vest, high quality riflerated
armor is financially out of reach for
many police departments, particularly those
in smaller communities. After the death of
Officer Garrett Swasey, Skifstad felt called by
God to do something different with his life.
He knew he wanted to help his community
of first responder brothers in a different way
but wasn’t sure how to move forward.
His friend, Cary Kaitilin, a minister at a
church in Colorado Springs, had been inspired
by charity bike rides like Pedal with a Purpose.
He suggested that Skifstad organize a bike
ride across the state to raise money for Angel
Armor and help provide better protection for
nrst responders. Having personally experienced
the positive impact physical activity had on his
own mental health struggles, Kaitilin believed
the ride could combine wellness, purpose, and
tangible support for those who serve on the
front lines. Skifstad, doubtful at t,rst, made the
wise decision to trust his friend. Because of that,
these riders are now in their 11th year of riding
for the purpose of raising funds to help protect
their fellow officers.
The bike rides are by invitation only.
Riders must be in excel lent physical condition
since they typically bike between 60 and 100
miles a day. More than being athletic, bikers
must fit in with the rest of the pack by being
dedicated to the mission. Most riders happen
to be men, though women, particularly active
sisters in the law enforcement community,
are encouraged to become involved.
Shield616 started out in Colorado
Springs but has now spread to 33 other
states. Skifstad is one of only three full-time
employees running this nationwide charity.
The group relies on volunteer work and
donations, which primarily come from small
businesses, individuals, and churches.
The vests are presented to law enforcement
officers each year during ceremonies held across
the country, with donors invited to attend as
well. Each vest is accompanied by a two-piece
magnet set. The officer receives one piece
bearing the donor’s name, while the donor
receives the matching piece with the name of the
officer receiving the vest. The gesture serves as a
meaningful reminder for both individuals to keep
one another in their thoughts and prayers.
The National Law Enforcement Officers
Memorial wall in Washington, D.C. displays
the names of the more than 24,000 law
enforcement officers who have died in the
line of duty since the country began keeping
records in 1786. Shield 616’s biggest dream
would be to see that no more names are ever
added to that wall.
To find more information on this group,
or to make donations, please visit .b!:tlli.;//
shield616.org/.
Click on the QR code to watch a video
from their 2025 ride honoring Officer Evan
Dunn, of the Golden Police Department, who
was lost in the line of duty.
