Jeannette K-9 gets protective vest from Massachusetts charity
It took Jeannette's K-9 officer, Arees, a few minutes to get used to his new outfit.
When Officer Jim Phillips strapped his partner into a donated protective vest, Arees walked a little off-balance while adjusting to the extra few pounds and constriction.
But the black piece of armor that arrived Saturday is now a comfortable part of Arees' uniform.
“This vest is made to fit him,” Phillips said.
The 3-year-old, dual-purpose German shepherd has been on the job for a little over a year. He is trained in patrols and narcotics detection.
“The patrol aspect of it is probably when he would be in the most danger,” Phillips said.
The bullet- and stab-resistant vest was sent to the city by Vested Interest in K9s, a Massachusetts charity that provides K-9 officers with protection. Donations solicited through the organization's website footed the approximately $2,000 bill for Arees.
“They're officers, also,” police Chief Shannon Binda said. “So why shouldn't they be able to be protected?”
Arees has participated in school locker searches and was sent to New Florence in November to help search for a suspect accused of gunning down a police officer.
“He's been involved in a lot of search warrants and a lot of arrests,” Phillips said.
Embroidered on the chest area of the vest are the words: “In memory of K-9 Rocco, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.”
Rocco, a German shepherd, was killed in January 2014 while assisting Pittsburgh police during an arrest. A suspect attempting to elude police is serving time for stabbing the dog in the back in the basement of a Lawrenceville home.
Six months later, “Rocco's Law” was enacted, increasing the penalties for killing a police animal.
Pittsburgh Port Authority K-9 Aren was stabbed to death last month while assisting in an arrest in Wilkinsburg. Aren, a German shepherd, died from a head wound.
Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-837-5374 or rsignorini@tribweb.com.
