The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
New police dog to be outfitted with donated vest
MIDDLETOWN » The police department’s canine officer Koda will receive a bulletand stab-proof vest paid for by a charitable donation from the nonprofit organization Vested Interest in K9s.
Koda’s vest is sponsored by Andrew M. Schiff of Cos Cob and will be embroidered with the sentiment “Gifted by Andrew S., GHS Class of 2017,” according to a press release. Delivery is expected within eight to 10 weeks.
Middletown Police Officer Matthew Bloom is Koda’s handler.
The cost for one protective vest for a law enforcement canine is $1,050, according to the release. There are three canine teams in the department. One police dog, who works with Officer Mike D’Aresta, Hunter, an eight-year force veteran, is retiring this fall. Officer William Miao and Judge work the day shift. Bloom and Koda graduated from the Connecticut State Police K-9 training in December.
Officer Aura Smith was just selected to be the next handler, according to Middletown police.
Vested Interest in K9s, located in East Taunton, Massachusetts, works to provide protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States.
Since its inception, the company has provided over 2,600 protective vests in 50 states through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over $2.1 million, according to its website.
The program is open to dogs employed in the United States with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age.
New police canine graduates, as well as dogs with expired vests, are eligible to participate, the release continued.
• For information, see vik9s.org.