Thanks to Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., a Massachusetts based nonprofit organization, and Armor Express, a Michigan based manufacturer, 13 law enforcement dogs in 7 states have received ballistic vests, including K9 Diesel, a four year old German Shepard handled by Officer Sean Degnan of the Milford Police Department’s K9 Unit and K9 Gibson, a seven year old German Shephard assigned to Trooper Chad Gomez. The Diesel/Degnan K9 team graduated from the 156th Connecticut State Police K9 Training Troop in January 2013 and the Gibson/Gomez K9 team has been working together for the last five years, crossed-trained in human remains detection in both land and water operations.
K9 Gibson’s ballistic vest was obtained in thanks to Officer David Buck, a K9 Handler with the Meriden Police Department who, through fundraising, raised $1,900 towards the purchase of protective vests for K9’s. Below is a photograph of K9 Gibson in his new ballistic vest.
To help protect other K9 teams in Connecticut, go to Vik9s.com and learn about the charity. For every 15 vests purchased, a free one is donated, and all proceeds for their calendar, for sale at the same site, go towards police dogs actively working without the proper safety gear.
