MIDDLETOWN – A state police dog will be getting some extra on-the-job protection.
K9 Jesse is a six-year-old male German shepherd that will get a bullet- and stab-protective vest donated by Vested Interest in K9s Inc., a nonprofit group based in East Taunton, Massachusetts. The vest is valued between $1,800 and $2,200.
The vest was sponsored by MacKenzie Machine, Inc. of New Haven and is embroidered with the sentiment “Keeping our dogs safe! In loving memory of BRP.”
Jesse has been assigned to Trooper First Class Scott Menard for the past 18 months and is currently working at Troop H in Hartford. The dog is trained in all patrol functions, including tracking, building searches, evidence recovery, apprehension, obstacles and obedience, and is also cross-trained as a narcotics detection K9.
Vested Interest in K9s has provided more than 1,800 protective vests in 49 states.
All vests are custom-made in the USA by Armor Express in Central Lake, Michigan.
