JASPER — Indiana State Police K9 Leo is set to receive a bulletproof and stab-protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from the non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.
Leo’s vest was sponsored by a donation from the Virginia L. Stoner Huguenard Endowment Fund of Corunna, Indiana. In her honor, the body armor will be custom-embroidered with the sentiment, “In memory of Virginia L. Stoner Huguenard.”
Delivery of the protective gear is expected within the next ten weeks.
K9 Leo is a two-year-old Belgian Malinois assigned to the ISP Jasper District. He has served at the Jasper Post for the past year alongside his handler, Trooper Austin Collins.
The custom-fitted body armor is manufactured in the U.S., certified by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), and weighs between four and five pounds. Each vest is valued at $1,800 and comes backed by a five-year warranty.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to supplying protective vests and equipment to law enforcement dogs across the United States. Since its founding, the organization has provided more than 6,631 vests valued at $6.9 million to K9 officers in all 50 states through private and corporate contributions.
Vests are available to active-duty law enforcement dogs that are at least 20 months old, as well as K9s with expired armor.
Members of the public interested in supporting the program can make tax-deductible contributions online at www.vik9s.org, by calling (508) 824-6978, or by mailing donations to P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, MA 02718. A sponsorship for a single vest requires a donation of $1,05
