News
King Cove Police Department’s K9 To Receive Bullet and Stab-Proof Vest
March 16, 2015
King Cove, AK – March 16, 2015 — The King Cove Police Department’s K9, Faro, has been awarded a ballistic vest, thanks to a non-profit organization, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., and the Alaska K9 Center. The organizations raised $1,452 for Faro’s vest.
“It is extremely important to protect the dog with a ballistic vest,” said King Cove Police Officer Brad Schneider, the dog’s handler. “Just like every police officer, Faro has a very dangerous and important job.”
Faro, a two-year old German Shepard, and Officer Schneider were trained in narcotics detection and tracking at the Kasseburg Canine Training Center in New Market, Alabama. The training lasted five weeks. Faro and Schneider received certification through the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association in November 2014. Faro was put into service with the police department on Nov. 28, 2014.
“Faro has done a couple of searches,” Officer Schneider said. “Demonstrating to the community that we have the capability to use a K9 officer might make an individual think twice about using or dealing drugs.”
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA. The charity’s mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. Each vest costs $950 and has a 5-year warranty. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially life-saving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Through private and corporate sponsorships, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided 1,317 law enforcement dogs in 49 states with protective vests since 2009 at a cost of more than $1.2 million.
The organization orders the U.S.-made vests exclusively from distributor Regency Police Supply in Hyannis, Massachusetts, which also does the custom embroidery on the body armor. Vests are manufactured by Armor Express in Central Lake, Michigan.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. announces their 7” plush stuffed German Shepherd K9 Hero, “Cesar”, and company ambassador of Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. now for sale online for $15.00 at www.vik9s.org. Proceeds from the sales will provide bullet and stab-protective vests for police dogs actively working without the potentially life-saving equipment.
The organization orders the U.S.-made vests exclusively from distributor Regency Police Supply in Hyannis, MA, which also does the custom embroidery on the body armor. Vests are manufactured by Armor Express in Central Lake, MI.
New K9 graduates as well as K9s with expired vests are eligible to participate. The program is open to law enforcement dogs who are U.S. employed, certified and at least 19 months of age.
For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Tax deductible donations accepted via mail to: Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718 or via the website: www.vik9s.org.
Contacts:
Chief Robert Gould
King Cove Police Department
Office: (907) 497-2210
email: kingcovedps@gmail.com
Laura Tanis
Communications Director
Aleutians East Borough
Office: (907) 274-7579
email: ltanis@aeboro.org