 | STATE OF CONNECTICUT Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection Connecticut State Police Public Information Office |  |
| Dr. Dora B. Schriro Commissioner | Colonel George F. Battle Deputy Commissioner Division of State Police | |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE K-9 PORTER TO RECEIVE PROTECTIVE VEST
(MIDDLETOWN, CT – May 22, 2018) - Connecticut State Police K9 Porter will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from the non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Porter’s vest is sponsored by a fundraiser hosted by Kim Dance of Harwinton, CT and will be embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Protect a Hero.” Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.
K9 Porter has been assigned to Trooper First Class Matthew Warren at Troop F in Westbrook since January 2014. Porter is a six-year-old German Shepherd and has been certified as a Patrol K-9 in tracking,
evidence recovery and apprehension since June of 2014. He has been certified in Search & Rescue / Disaster Recovery/Cadaver
Specialty and has been a member of the Emergency Services Unit
/ Search & Rescue Team since September of 2014.
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 nonprofit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 partners. Through private and corporate donations, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., has provided more than 2,900 protective vests in all 50 states at a value of more than $5.7 million. All vests are custom made in the USA by Armor Express in Central Lake, MI.
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 K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.
The suggested donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $950.00. Each vest has an average weight of 4-5 pounds and has a value between $1,7944–$2,283 and a five-year warranty. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s 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.
