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Drive to
save dogs' lives
Cub Scouts to raise money to purchase bullet-proof vests for area
K-9 departments
Last Modified:
1:04 a.m. 10/26/2002
Topeka, Kansas
By Tim Hrenchir
The Capital-Journal
Wearing a simulation of a bullet proof vest, K-9 Rico, a Belgian
Malinois with the Topeka Police Department, enjoys a little play
time with his handler, Officer Kelly Roberts, of the Topeka Police
Department's Street Crime Action Team.
Earl Richardson/The Capital-Journal
Four years ago, a Topeka police dog lost his life in the line of
duty. A belligerent, knife-wielding man stabbed the German shepherd,
Sevo, several times after police were called in September 1998 to a
disturbance in central Topeka. Sevo's partner, officer Scott
Gilchrist, shot the assailant, who survived. Sevo didn't, dying of
his wounds about three months later.
Now, a local Cub Scout pack hopes to save other canine cops from the
same fate. Bryant Hertel, assistant Cubmaster of Pack 246 at Most
Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, says the pack is trying to raise
at least $30,000 to buy bulletproof vests for police dogs that work
for area law enforcement agencies. The Kevlar vests would be
acquired through Vest-A-Dog Inc., a nonprofit group based in
Oceanside, Calif. The vests are bullet- and stab-proof. They cost
$695 each, and would be bought from International Armor Corp. Hertel
said he recently contacted various law enforcement agencies in the
Topeka area and found that none provided bulletproof vests for their
police dogs.Topeka police Lt. John Sidwell said vests for police
dogs came into prominence two or three years ago. He said Topeka
police have no such vests because the department has lacked money in
its budget to buy them. Sidwell said police were "happy and
thankful" that Pack 246 was raising money to buy the vests. Topeka
K-9 officer Kelly Roberts said the department's K-9 unit hoped to
acquire vests for 10 dogs, though one wouldn't be needed for an 11th
dog that is semi-retired and used only for drug detection. K-9
handlers would welcome the extra protection for their dogs, which
often confront danger as they work to take a bite out of crime. "Any
time they go into a building to do a building search, they don't
know what's in there," Roberts said. Audio
Kelly Roberts, Topeka K-9 officer
News of a New Jersey police dog's death in the line of duty led to
the formation in 1999 of Vest-A-Dog Inc. According to the
organization's Web page, 11-year-old Stephanie Taylor read about how
a humane society in New Jersey had started raising money to vest
police dogs after canine officer named "Solo" was killed in that
state. Stephanie reacted by collecting money to buy a bulletproof
vest for a police dog in her home of Oceanside, Calif. Her effort
grew into the formation of Vest-A-Dog, which has vested more than
1,000 police dogs in the United States and Canada. Hertel said Pack
246 got involved after his wife learned about Vest-A-Dog while
watching the "America's Most Wanted" TV program.K-9 Vests" is the
name of the group raising money locally. So far, organizers have
collected more than $5,000, including a $3,600 donation received
Wednesday consisting of $1,200 each from both local Wal-Marts and
Sam's Club. For more information, e-mail Hertel at K9_Vests@hotmail.com.
Donations are tax-deductible and may be made to a fund at any
Commerce Bank and Trust Co. location.K-9 Vests Cub Scout Pack
246 hopes to raise at least $30,000 to buy 43 bulletproof vests for
area police dogs at $695 each. More than $5,000 has been raised.
Here is how 34 vests would be distributed. Other vests would go to
area agencies yet to be determined: Topeka Police
Department: Kansas Highway Patrol: Shawnee County
Sheriff's Office: Kansas Wildlife and Parks:
Jefferson County Sheriff's Department: Wabaunsee County
Sheriff's Department: Jackson County Sheriff's
Department: Potawatomi Tribal Police: 1Approximate cost
of of the 34 vests: $23,630.
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