Bulletproof vest for police dog

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Thanks to a kind donor, Blue the police dog now has a nice new coat — and it’s bulletproof.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/02/2012 (5085 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Thanks to a kind donor, Blue the police dog now has a nice new coat — and it’s bulletproof.

Specifically, it’s not so much a coat as it is a K9 Storm Patrol-Swat Vest.

Businessman Travis Powell bought the vest for the Brandon Police Service German shepherd after learning that only one of their two dogs had body armour.

Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun
Brandon Police Service Const. Mike Kulchyski and his police dog Blue train near the police station on Tuesday afternoon. Blue received a protective vest from a donation by Sargent Lock and Safe.
Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun Brandon Police Service Const. Mike Kulchyski and his police dog Blue train near the police station on Tuesday afternoon. Blue received a protective vest from a donation by Sargent Lock and Safe.

“I didn’t hesitate to say that I’d buy that other vest if they wanted it,” said Powell, the owner of Sargent Lock and Safe.

“It was my honour to buy the vest.”

BPS Chief Keith Atkinson and Blue’s handler, Const. Mike Kulchyski, were among those present at the police station Tuesday for a ceremony held to thank Powell.

As a result of his gesture, the name of Powell’s company is stitched into the vest’s lining. Powell also received a framed set of photos of Blue wearing the vest.

Blue is the police force’s newest canine member.

He has been on duty since September 2010 and received his vest at the end of October.

The $1,900 vest, made by a Winnipeg-based company, contains lightweight, flexible Kevlar panels to protect against bullets and knives.

Such custom-fit vests weigh up to seven pounds, light enough to allow Blue to run, search, jump and track.

Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun
Brandon Police Service Const. Mike Kulchyski’s dog Blue trains near the police station on Tuesday. Blue received a protective vest from a donation by Sargent Lock and Safe.
Colin Corneau/The Brandon Sun Brandon Police Service Const. Mike Kulchyski’s dog Blue trains near the police station on Tuesday. Blue received a protective vest from a donation by Sargent Lock and Safe.

Blue will wear his vest during high-risk situations, such as when he’s working with the police force’s tactical team.

The donation means that Blue is now equipped with the same vest as the BPS’s other canine member, Kaos.

Kaos’ vest was supplied courtesy of a previous anonymous donor.

Chief Keith Atkinson said the vests could be purchased using police funds, but donations are a nice way for residents to show their support for the force.

» ihitchen@brandonsun.com

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