NEWS RELEASE from the Maine Department of Public Safety
from Spokesman Steve McCausland - 626-3811
Two State Police dogs, Champ and Merry, are being awarded bullet
and stab protective vest thanks to the efforts of a Massachusetts
based non-profit organization. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc, VPI Pet
Insurance of Brea, CA, and a Sorrento resident have provided the funding for
the two vests. The charity received a $950 donation from Madeline
Hamersley of Sorrento for the purchase of body armor for Champ. This is the
thirteenth dog to receive a vest from Hamersley’s donations. Some of her previous
donations have benefited State Police and she also has funded vests for dogs
from other police agencies. Merry’s vest is funded from the Pet Partner
Referral Program hosted by VPI Pet Insurance. State Police have all of their
patrol canines equipped with vests.
Champ and his handler - Trooper Jeremy Forbes, patrol York County
as part of Troop A. Champ is also a certified drug detection dog.
Merry and his handler – Trooper Jared Sylvia, patrol in Aroostook
County as part of Troop F.
Vested Interest in K9s is a 501c (3) charity located in East
Taunton, MA. whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests for
law enforcement dogs throughout the United States. The nonprofit was
established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially
lifesaving body armor for their canines. Through private and corporate
sponsorships Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 1125 law
enforcement dogs in 40 states with vests since their inception in August of
2009. The value of the donated vests now exceed $1 million. The
Armor Express vests are made in Central Lake, MI exclusively from distributor
Regency Police Supply in Hyannis, MA. who also does the custom embroidery on
the body armor.
New canine graduates as well as dogs with expired vests are
eligible to apply for the ballistic vests. The program is available to US
employed and certified law enforcement dogs that are at least 19 months of age.
More information is available on their web site - www.vik9s.org.