Nearly one year ago, on April 8, 2021, Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS) trooper Juan Tovar was shot through his side window while trying to apprehend a mass shooter fleeing Bryan. Not even two weeks before Tovar’s injury, another TDPS trooper, Chad Walker, was fatally shot near Mexia, Texas while stopping to assist a disabled vehicle.
These events, coupled with the passing of legislation SB2222 requiring bullet-resistant windows for all TDPS vehicles, led to the creation of Operation Safe Shield. The nonprofit’s mission is to raise funding to equip all Brazos Valley law enforcement vehicles with protective windshield glass developed by ATEK Defense.
“The windshields cost between $7,500 and $8,500 per vehicle for product and installation,” says Faye Lane, a member and organizer of Operation Safe Shield and Backing the Badge BCS.
The nonprofit was founded by Backing the Badge BCS’ president, Dr. Clifford Dorn, and K9s4Cops’ founder, Kristi Schiller. Backing the Badge BCS was created out of appreciation for Bryan College Station’s first responders, and K9s4Cops was founded to help Texas police departments fund and support highly-valued K9 units.
Their biggest fundraiser is Operation Safe Shield’s Steak Dinner Benefit. The event will feature a steak dinner, live auction, a silent auction, and a raffle. There are varying levels of donations and sponsorships available, as well as individual ticket options.
The funds raised will go towards production and installation of ATEK Defense bulletproof windshields. These windshields are made with handgun-rated ballistic glass that can stop multiple shots of .9mm bullet shells. The shields sport a unique one-way ballistic protection, meaning that bullets cannot travel into the vehicle, but police officers can fire rounds from the inside of their cars.
Along with Operation Safe Shield’s Steak Dinner Benefit, there will be other events throughout the Brazos Valley for First Responder Month honoring police, firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders. Allen Academy will host breakfast for Brazos County first responders on April 1 from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. on their school campus. Students and staff will show their appreciation with a hot meal and community service. On April 30, the Tonkaway Charity Clay Classic will be held at Tonkaway Ranch from 3 to 11 p.m. in support of Backing the Badge BCS and Allen Academy. Novice and expert shooters are invited to take on the sporting clay course competition, followed by various prizes, a steak dinner, and live country music. IN
For more information on Operation Safe Shield, visit operationsafeshield.org.
