The Tuskegee University Police Department announced on Mar. 17 that its canine team member, Bowser, will soon be equipped with a bullet and stab protective vest. The vest is being donated by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting law enforcement dogs across the United States.
Bowser plays a key role in the university’s community policing efforts. Darrius Jones, Assistant Chief of the Tuskegee University Police Department, said, “Bowser is an important part of our community policing strategy. We are grateful to Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. for helping to protect him as he supports Tuskegee’s commitment to ensure our campus is safe and secure for our faculty, staff and students, and visitors to our campus.”
The protective vest is expected to arrive within ten weeks. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., founded in 2009, provides custom-fitted body armor certified by the National Institute of Justice for law enforcement dogs nationwide. Since its founding, the organization has supplied over 6,348 vests valued at $6.9 million to K9 units in all 50 states through private and corporate donations.
To qualify for the program, dogs must be at least 20 months old and actively employed or certified with law enforcement or related agencies. Dogs with expired vests are also eligible. There are about 30,000 law enforcement K9s working throughout the country.
Vested Interest in K9s accepts tax-deductible contributions of any amount; a single donation of $1,050 sponsors one vest valued at $1,800. Each vest weighs between four and five pounds and comes with a five-year warranty. More information about donations or volunteer opportunities can be found at www.vik9s.org or by calling (508) 824-6978.
The addition of this protective equipment reflects ongoing efforts to enhance safety measures for both officers and their canine partners on campus.
