LOPD K9s Get Body Armor Donation

LAKE OSWEGO, OR — Two K9s with the Lake Oswego Police Department this week received bullet and stab protective vests through a donation from Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., department officials said Thursday. An East Coast-based nonprofit, Vested Interest in K9s makes regular donations to numerous law enforcement K9 teams across the country, including many here in the Portland metro region.

Embroidered with the message, "In memory of K9 Rocco, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police," the vests donated to the LOPD's only two K9s, Chase and Szemi, honor the late German Shepherd who was wounded in the line of duty Jan. 28, 2014.

After chasing down a wanted man and trapping him in the basement of a building, Rocco and two human officers attempted an arrest — but the man was armed with a 5-inch blade that be began swinging wildly, according to Pittsburgh police.

Both officers were reportedly wounded before Rocco jumped in to help. But while attacking the suspect, Rocco sustained a deep stab wound on his back that punctured his kidney and spine.

Despite surgeries and blood transfusions, Rocco succumbed to his injury two days later on Jan. 30. The furry 5-year veteran of the Pittsburgh Police Department was 8 years old.

"We are extremely appreciative of the organization for donating the vests," LOPD Lt. Darryl Wrisley told Patch Thursday. "Hopefully it's something we'll never need, but we'll be grateful to have it if we do."

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Lake Oswego police have never lost a K9 in the line of duty, said Wrisley, who oversees the department's K9 program. And the department's chances to continue that streak is now even better.

Vested Interest in K9s has reportedly donated more than 3,000 protective vests to K9 units in all 50 states. Dozer, a K9 with the Hillsboro Police Department, received a vest from the nonprofit in July.

Private and corporate donations reportedly help the nonprofit send off the vests to various police departments across the nation. A $950 donation, the nonprofit explained, will supply one protective K9 vest, which itself is valued anywhere between $1,744 and $2,283 and comes with a 5-year warranty.

With an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the country, donations to this cause are always welcome.

For more information, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, call 508-824-6978 or visit www.vik9s.org. Donations can also be mailed to:

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.
P.O. Box 9
East Taunton, MA 02718

Top image via Lake Oswego Police Department