Bolingbrook Police K9 Gets Bulletproof Vest

From the Bolingbrook Police Department

The next time the Bolingbrook Police K9, Johan, goes out on a job, he’ll be a lot safer thanks to the donation of a ballistic vest by a Massachusetts non-profit organization and a Michigan-based manufacturer.

K9 Johan is a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois originally from Holland, and purchased from Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Indiana. Johan is assigned to Officer Jason O’Hara, a first-time handler employed as a Police Officer since 2006. Johan was certified in narcotics detection, patrol work, and tracking in mid-July of 2014, and has been protecting the residents of Bolingbrook ever since. When he’s not working the street, he enjoys obedience and agility exercises, and trying to earn food treats from his police officer teammates. Johan still very much acts like a puppy most times, and at home, he enjoys wrestling with his brother-dog Moose, and sister-dog Paulie.

Johan is also approaching the one-year-anniversary of a very productive partnership with his handler, Officer Jason O’Hara, a 9-year veteran of the Bolingbrook Police Department. Officer O’Hara attended and played college football at Illinois Wesleyan University prior to going to work for the Bolingbrook Police Department.

The Bolingbrook Police Department’s K9 Johan has been awarded a ballistic vest thanks to a nonprofit organization, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., and an anonymous sponsor who provided $950.00 toward the vest. The vest will be embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc”.

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. Each vest costs $1,050 and has a 5 year warranty. The nonprofit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four legged K9 Officers. Through private and corporate sponsorships, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 1420 law enforcement dogs in 49 states with protective vests since 2009 at a cost of over $1.3 million dollars.

The organization orders the U.S. made vests exclusively from distributor Regency Police Supply in Hyannis, MA who also does the custom embroidery on the body armor. Vests are manufactured by Armor Express in Central Lake, MI.

New K9 graduates as well as K9s with expired vests are eligible to participate. The program is open to law enforcement dogs who are US employed, certified and at least 19 months of age.

For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, call 508-824-6978. Tax deductible donations accepted via mail to: Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718 or the website: www.vik9s.org.