Harriman Police Department’s K9 Izzy will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Izzy’s vest is sponsored by Judith Robertson of Scottsdale, Arizona and will be embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Judith”. Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 3,700 U.S. made, custom fitted, NIJ certified protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a value of $6.9 million dollars.

The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.

The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $950.00. Each vest has a value between $1,744 – $2,283 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States.

K9 Izzy is a German Shorthair Pointer and is certified in narcotics and tracking and has been with Harriman Police Department since 2019. Her handler, Officer Tony Gregory, has been with the department since 2018.

Harriman Police Chief Baron Tapp would like to thank Vested Interest in K9’s for their dedication to police K9’s nationwide and also Judith Robertson for her generous gift.