Making sure police officers in dangerous situations is important and the same goes for their four-legged companions.
Train– a 5-year-old German Shepard mix who works alongside the Southern Regional Police department in Lancaster county– will now be protected in the line of duty.
Thanks to the non-profit Vested Interest, Train– who helps officers in patrol and narcotic detection– has a new tactical vest.
The organization will be giving the vests out to K9 officers across the country. The 1,000 dollar vest was made in memory of Pittsburgh P.D. K9 Rocco–who was killed in the line of duty earlier this year.
Each vest will be embroidered with the sentiment, “In memory of K9 Rocco, Pittsburgh Police Department”.
“It’s stab proof and bulletproof and it only weighs about 4 pounds so it will be less stress on his back and his back legs and it will help protect him on the street,” Officer Dianne Carter, Train’s Handler and Patrol Officer with Southern Regional Police, said.
Carter is a 14-year law enforcement veteran.
Officers practice with Train twice a month which includes building clearing training. They say his work with their department helps them clear buildings and find things easier