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East Hartford Police Department’s K-9 Casus To Get Body Armor

Posted on: November 14, 2017 - 2:57pm
Officer Todd Mona & K-9 Casus Belli

East Hartford Police Department’s K-9 Casus will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K-9 Casus’ vest is sponsored by Protectors of Animals of East Hartford, CT and will be embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Protectors of Animals”. Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.

“Very special thanks go to the generosity and efforts of Vested Interest in K9s, Incorporated, and Protectors of Animals,” said East Hartford police Chief Scott Sansom. “Safety is our top priority, not only for the public, but for our officers as well, which includes our K-9s.” 

K-9 Casus Belli joined the East Hartford Police Department Patrol Division after graduating from the New Britain Police Department K-9 Academy in June, 2015. During the last three years he, along with his veteran handler Officer Todd Mona, has received multiple awards and recognition for success during K-9 competitions and for criminal apprehensions.    

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States.  The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K-9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 2,700 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over 2.3 million dollars.

The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K-9 graduates, as well as K-9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.

The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K-9 is $950.00. Each vest has a value between $1,744 – $2,283 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs.  There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K-9s throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978.  Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.