Sandy Springs K9 Officer Receives Protective Ballistics Vest

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — The Georgia Police K9 Foundation has vested 108 Georgia law enforcement K9s, and K9 Renzo with the Sandy Springs Police Department is the latest to receive a vest.

What is unique about these K9 protective vests is they have a soft body armor specifically constructed to be lightweight. This helps protect law enforcement K9s from becoming exhausted from heavier vests, which may cause overheating. In Georgia, heat indexes can reach over 100 degrees in a matter of minutes. Keeping a K9s body temperature down is crucial while they are working to avoid heat exhaustion or even a heat stroke.

The fabric in the LOF Streetfighter vest helps regulate the K9's body temperature keeping them comfortable and cool and are meant to be worn for entire shifts so that the four legged officers are protected at all times.

K9 officers unconditionally run into dangerous situations, regardless of whether a suspect could be armed with a lethal weapon. These vests are bullet resistant and shield the K9’s vital organs during any apprehension that may involve tracking and even, detaining a fleeing suspect before an officer can take full control.

K9 Renzo, a 7-year-old Belgium malinois, serves the citizens of Sandy Springs for the mere payment of a reward toy and praise from his handler. He loves family time and meeting the people in the Sandy Springs area. However, this K9’s all-time favorite activity is playing the game at work. This K9 is a dual-purpose patrol K9, as well as, takes narcotics off the streets.

Georgia Police K9 Foundation is an all volunteer 501(c)3 non-profit, which helps raise awareness within the state and the local communities of the contributions made by the police K9s and how they save lives to make communities safe. The group's goal is to protect as many of Georgia’s four legged officers by providing them with safety equipment, such as, bullet-proof vests, heat alarm systems, and Naloxone (Narcan Kits) in the event a K9 is directly exposed to any opioids during a search and seizure.

Once a K9 has retired, the handler will adopt their K9 partner. In the absence of state or local retirement benefits for the K9s, the foundation will help provide retirement support, including food and medical care, for the retired law enforcement K9s, who have served their communities for years.

To date, the Georgia Police K9 Foundation has assisted over 1,000 Georgia K9s by providing:

• 108 K9 protection vests
• 42 heat alarms
• 30 Narcan kits
• 15 first aid kits
• 50+ retirement plaques
• 100+ retired K9s have been assisted
• 200+ training equipment, seminars, and trainings were supplied to K9 teams across the state

Learn more about the foundation on its website.