Fort Lee Police K-9s To Get Body Armor

FORT LEE, NJ — The police department's K-9s Bodie and Hudson will each receive body armor thanks to a donation from a non-profit that works to protect police dogs.

The vests are designed to protect the dogs from being shot and stabbed. Each one is valued from $1,800 to about $2,200 and weighs about 5 pounds.

The department was able to purchase the vests thanks to a $2,000 donation from Vested Interest In K9s Inc., a Massachusetts-based nonprofit that works to provide such protective gear to law enforcement agencies. The organization has provided more than 2,600 vests, through private and corporate donations, since it was founded in 2009, said Chief Keith Bendul.

The program is open to dogs actively working with law enforcement and related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months old.

Bodie is partnered with Officer Chris Richter, who is assigned to the department’s Emergency Services Unit. Bodie and Richter graduated from the Bergen County Sheriff’s K-9 training in May, and Bodie is dual certified as a patrol and explosives detection K-9.

Hudson is partnered with Officer Zachary Joseph of the Patrol Division. Hudson and Joseph also graduated from the Bergen County Sheriff’s K9 training in May. Hudson is dual certified as a patrol and narcotics detection K9. Hudson is named after the 17th century explorer Henry Hudson, who explored this section of the United States and is the namesake of the Hudson River.

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Photos: K-9s Bodie, left, and Hudson./Courtesy of Fort Lee Police Department; background image via Shutterstock