Chelmsford Police Department Gets New Canine Bulletproof Vest

Chelmsford’s Police K9 Unit will be a little safer now thanks to a donation from the Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog program.

Recently, Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog president Kathy Hinds provided a new top-of-the-line bullet proof vest for Flacko, the Chelmsford Police Department’s K-9 dog, along with his handler, Officer David Leo.

The vest is custom made for Flacko, who according to Leo seemed uncomfortable in his old vest, and it also has a mount on the back for a K9 video camera as needed.

“Hopefully this new vest will save Flacko’s life,” said Hinds. “and not just his life, but the lives of human officers, innocent civilians and even the bad guy he is trying to subdue.”

The vest cost approximately $3,200 in total. Vest-a-Dog provided $2,200 from two anonymous $10,000 gifts that were spread across 12 departments throughout the Commonwealth.

Other funds for the vest came from the Chelmsford Police Patrolmen’s Association.

More information on the Vest-a-Dog program is available at mavestadog.org