GPD receives K-9 body armor

Graham Police Department received a donation of K-9 body armor on Nov. 1 from the non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. GPD first announced they would be receiving the donation on July 31.

According to a GPD Facebook post, K-9 Wolf will be receiving the bullet and stab protective vest which was sponsored by Stacy Wheetley, of Austin. The body vest will be embroidered with the sentence ‘This gift of protection provided by Stacy and Braxton.’

The non-profit organization, established in 2009, is located in East Taunton, Mass., and follows the mission of providing bullet and stab protective vests, along with other assistance, to law enforcement and related agencies dogs throughout the nation. The organization has provided over 3,500 vests in all 50 states through private and corporate donations totaling $5.7 million, according to the Facebook post.

GPD Chief of Police Brent Bullock said, in an Aug. 7 article with The Graham Leader, the K-9 officers in their department serve a vital role and these vests make sure they stay safe.

“It basically protects the dog that is serving as a tool for our citizens and for us. They are an officer of the department is the way we look at them, even though it is a tool,” Bullock said in a previous article. “I know the handlers consider them their first partners, so to us that’s important to keep them safe.”

For the full story, see the Saturday, Nov. 9 edition of The Graham Leader.