Shelton Police K9 Officer 'Stryker' to Receive Protective Vest

SHELTON, CT — "Stryker," a Shelton Police Department K9 officer, is scheduled to receive a bullet and stab-proof protective vest this fall from the nonprofit charity Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., the department announced Monday.

Stryker is a two-and-a-half-year-old German Shepherd, and the body armor is sponsored by Shelton resident Margaret Miles. The vest will be embroidered with the sentiment "In loving memory of Therapy Dog Sandy."

Shelton Police Officer Daniel Loris is Stryker's handler, and the two graduated the Connecticut State Police K-9 Academy in May of 2015.

Established in 2009, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA, with a mission to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. To date, the group has provided more than 2,000 protective vests to law enforcement dogs.

Stryker's vest will be custom made in the USA by Armor Express of Central Lake, MI, the company that make all the vests for Vested Interest in K9s. K9 vests made by Armor Express are valued at between $1,800 and $2,300 and weigh four to five pounds.

For more information about Vested Interest in K9s, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, contact the charity at 508-824-6978, or visit the website at www.vik9s.org.

Photo: Shelton Police K9 Officer "Stryker." Photo credit: Shelton Police Departmen