Manassas City K-9 Unit receives three ballistic vests in national effort to honor fallen hero

Thanks to a nonprofit organization, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., and Hayward DuPont Staffing, Manassas City Police Department’s Canine Unit has been awarded three ballistic K9 vests through a nationwide nonprofit event that took place in late 2014.

The “Doctors Vesting K9 Heroes” campaign to honor fallen K9 Kye of the Oklahoma City Police Department is a fundraising campaign that last took place in the fall of 2014. 

All tax-deductible donations raised were put towards outfitting K9s nationwide with bullet and stab protective vests to shield them in the line of duty. 

MCPD is proud to have received fitted vests to safeguard three of its very own four-legged crime fighters who put their lives on the line every day for their community and their partners: K9 Sultan, K9 Loki, and K9 Rex.

In honor of K9 Kye who sacrificed his life on August 25, 2014, all vests provided with the proceeds of this event will be embroidered with the sentiment, “In Memory of K9 Kye, Oklahoma City Police Department.”

Established in 2009 to provide this potentially life-saving body armor and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. was the charity partner selected by Hayward DuPont Staffing to participate in the event. 

From its headquarters in East Taunton, MA, the 501c(3) has provided over 1,100 law enforcement dogs in 39 states with protective vests since 2009 at a total cost of $1,045,000.

Each vest, manufactured by Armor Express of Central Lake, MI and distributed and embroidered by Regency Police Supply in Hyannis, MA, costs $950 and has a five-year warranty.

New K9 graduates as well as K9s with expired vests are eligible to participate.  The program is open to law enforcement dogs who are employed in the U.S., certified, and at least 19 months of age.