New Niles Police Canine Receives Body Armor Donation

NILES-MORTON GROVE, IL - From the Niles Police Department: Niles resident Darcy Friesen and her two children Josephine and George had a great idea, they wanted to raise funds to assist a police K-9 in getting body armor for protection. Mrs. Friesen a former graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Citizens Police Academy as well as a 2016 graduate of the Niles Police Department Citizen’s Police Academy reached out to the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for guidance. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, suggested a local law enforcement agency might benefit. They then forwarded Mrs. Friesen’s information off to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, National Academy Association which is comprised of law enforcement executives from local metropolitan area law enforcement agencies.

Niles Police Department Deputy Chief Vincenzo Genualdi, a board member of the National Academy
Association contacted Mrs. Friesen stating that the Niles Police Department had a newly formed
Police Canine Unit. Over the months of June, July and August, Mrs. Friesen and her two children
George and Josephine conducted fundraising through lemonade stand sales and baked goods.
Through their efforts they raised $775.00. Glenview State Bank, where Mrs. Friesen is employed
provided an additional $225.00 towards their goal of $1025.00.

On 09/05/2017 Mrs. Friesen and her two children presented the two checks totaling $1025.00 to
Deputy Chief Vince Genualdi, Police K9 Handler Christopher Koch for the purchase of body armor for
K9 Ace. The cost for the body armor, which is bullet resistant and stab resistant, will be purchased in
the amount of $833.00. The remaining $192.00 will be utilized to purchase other equipment that will
assist Ace and his handler in the performance of their duties.

Image via Niles Police Department