That’s just the most recent success story for the non-profit Capital Area Law Enforcement Foundation, or CALEF, as its called. Since its beginning in 2016, CALEF has made it its mission to protect local law enforcement officers by equipping them with the best possible ballistic vests through donations.

In the aftermath of an ambush on law enforcement that shook Baton Rouge to its core in 2016, it became clear that the standard vests worn by many officers were not sufficient to protect against rifle rounds. This realization is what started CALEF, which has since partnered with Angel Armor, a Fort Collins-based company renowned for making Otterbox phone cases. These vests are designed to stop “any bullet an officer may come across on the street,” said Pat Englade, President of CALEF, and a former Baton Rouge Police chief.

“Our goal from the start has been to ensure every law enforcement officer in the Capital Area has access to the highest quality protection. So far, we’ve provided over 2,000 vests to officers in our region,” said Englade.

Each vest costs approximately $2,000 due to the advanced materials and technology required to stop high-caliber rounds. It’s why the non-profit puts on fundraisers throughout the year to raise money, with an annual golf tournament being one of their biggest fundraisers.

The 6th annual CALEF golf tournament is set to take place November 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Top Golf Baton Rouge. This is the first time the organization is holding their golf tournament at Top Golf, in hopes of introducing new players to CALEF’s mission.

There will be first place prizes as well as best and worst performance prizes. A six-person team can still register and anyone is welcome to make donations directly to CALEF at calef.la.

“The tournament is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and it allows us to purchase a significant number of vests,” Englade added. “Every year, we aim to raise $100,000 from the tournament, which would buy 50 vests.”

The golf tournament is not just about the game. In addition to registration fees, CALEF secures sponsorships and donations, as well as sells items during the event to raise additional funds.

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