Police officers need protection to keep them safe on the job and K9 officers are no exception.
Galesburg Police K9 Zeus is getting a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a donation from non-profit, Vested Interest in K9’s.
The charity formed in 2009 to assist law enforcement with this potentially life-saving equipment for K9 officers.
K9 Zeus has been with the GPD for just a few months, getting picked up in August before completing a 10-week training with his human partner, Officer Jake Taylor.
Police Chief Russ Idle in August when he was a Lieutenant said that typically K9 officers were equipped with vests purchased with grant funds, so additional funding was likely not necessary.
Zeus’ vest will be embroidered with the sentiment “Born to Love-Trained to Serve-Loyal Always.”
Each vest is valued between $1,700 and $2,200 and comes with a five-year warranty.
Zeus was selected and trained to replace K9 officer Ajax who retired in December, as his handler Lane Mings had been recently promoted to detective.
