For the past year, Derringer Firearms in Lakeland has focused efforts on spreading “We support law enforcement” signs across the nation.

Now, the store's manager has launched a fundraising campaign to buy police officers new body armor and help keep officers safe.

  • Ashton Bardwell hopes to raise $63,000 with "Shield the Badges"
  • Funds will purchase armor vests for each Lakeland police officer
  • To donate, visit gofundme.com/shieldthebadges

“With everything going on in the news lately, specifically the targeted attacks against law enforcement, it was making me really concerned about the safety for my father and my husband when they go out to work every day,” said Ashton Bardwell, manager of Derringer Firearms.

Bardwell’s husband is a Lakeland police officer, and her father is a Polk County deputy.

Bardwell said she watched the shooting and killing of the five law enforcement officers in Dallas as it was happening on live television. She said that was the moment when she decided she wanted to do something more to protect the father of her daughter.

“While we were watching it, that’s probably when it really became real to me,” recalled Bardwell. “It became sort of an emotional project at that point in time, because I thought I don’t want that to be my husband, I don’t want that to be my father.”

On Friday, Bardwell announced the creation of a non-profit organization called “Shield the Badges.” Bardwell hopes to raise $63,000 through "Shield the Badges," in order to purchase a vest for each Lakeland police officer.

The vests provide an enhanced level of ballistic protection from what officers already have. They’ll be worn on top of their uniforms during active shooter situations, and also on everyday calls when needed.

“There’s lot of situations where they encounter rifle fire or guns on a normal basis,” said Bardwell. “I mean, just specifically, my husband has been in law enforcement for 11 years now and he’s been to four different situations with people shooting at him, so it happens more than people think.“

So far, Bardwell has raised $1,000. She hopes to raise the $63,000 in the next three months, so the police department can have the vests by the end of the year.

To make a donation, visit gofundme.com/shieldthebadges, or stop by Derringer Firearms to drop off a donation.

This Gofundme.com site is not managed by Bay News 9/News 13. For more information on how the site works and the rules visit  http://www.gofundme.com/safety.