Montgomery K-9 Officers Suit Up

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The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office was given some new gear to keep their finest four-legged officers safer. Thanks to a generous donation, all six of the K-9 officers have bulletproof vests.

Tim Heath, the K-9 trainer, is glad his partner Ipo will now be safer. Heath and Ipo have been together for almost three years. Ipo loves his ball and playtime like any other dog, but he knows he has a job to do.

“He’ll get on the ground, roll around, play ball with you, love on you, jump up here and lick on you, it’s all fun and games to them,” says Heath. “But now when he’s bailed out of that car, somebody puts their hand on you, when it gets to the point of him going into use, it’s a whole different ball game. It’s not play time for them then.”

The vests were donated by the Vested Interest in K-9s, Inc. organization. The non-profit relies completely on donations to buy the K-9 vests, which range in price from $1,795 to $2,234. Ipo and his fellow four-legged officers, Doerack, Aros, Blade, Hoss and Johnny, are all going to be much safer on the streets.

“It’s not just for us, as far as the danger,” adds Heath.

“Just last week a police dog in Utah was killed by gunfire. In fact, in 2016 they’ve had six line of duty deaths of police dogs,” says Captain George Beaudry. Beaudry admits the vests can be quite costly, but also says he cannot put a price on an officer’s life.

“If we lose one of these animals in the line of duty, it does absolutely affect the entire department. It absolutely affects the handlers themselves, and it affects the community as a whole,” he says.

Some of the vests are embroidered with names or phrases, as requested by the donors. Those who donated know these dogs are more than just pets, they are partners to their human officers.

“When things get bad it’s much nicer to have a partner,” says Heath.

The K-9 officers are now ready to handle anything or anyone who comes their way.

“When it’s time to work it’s all serious then,” says Heath. “It doesn’t matter if it’s apprehension, if it’s narcotics, it doesn’t matter which one it is, when it comes to that it’s all serious.”

For more information on the Vested Interest in K-9s, Inc. organization, click here.