Swatara Township Police Department’s K9 J.T. has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. The vest was sponsored by a fundraiser hosted by Maria Krzyszton, Alden Associates at Integer Holdings and embroidered with the sentiment “Gifted by Integer Holdings”.

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 3,500 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. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.

The Swatara Township Police Department would like to thank Vested Interest in K9s for providing K-9 J.T. with a ballistic vest. K-9 J.T. is a 2 ½ year old German Shepard from Slovakia. K-9 J.T. continually assists law enforcement with tracking, drug investigations, and attends community service events giving K-9 demonstrations. In his down time, K-9 J.T. enjoys going for long walks around his neighborhood and napping on his new dog bed. We are appreciative of his new vest as it will keep him safe as he continues to serve Swatara Township and surrounding communities.