Sheriff's Office Raises Funds to Buy Protective Vests for K9 Officers | State

BERKS COUNTY, Pa. – The Berks County Sheriff's Office is raising funds to purchase protective vests for K9 officers.

“At the bare minimum, you want your K9s to have the same level of protection as your officers on the street,” said Deputy Sheriff K9 Handler Michael Lill.

Lill says the sheriff's office is trying to raise about $9,000 so the dogs can wear protective vests while on duty.

“K9s are actually in more dangerous scenarios than police officers on a daily basis,” Lill said. “K9s are on the front lines of every building search you conduct under high-risk criminal warrants. They will be the first in and, unfortunately, if they have no protection, a natural reaction for a being human could be pursuing this K9 instead of an officer.”

All dogs are already equipped with bulletproof vests. K9 Kali and Efan both need the work and K9 Rizzo just needs an adaptation so his vest can be fitted with a camera.

“Having this camera is invaluable in allowing us to get information inside a home,” Lill explained. “If we don't actually have to go into a house that we don't know what's in there, and we can send a dog in and bring that dog back out of harm's way, and see what the interior of a house. [it’s] safer for the dog, safer for all officers involved. »

Any funds raised during the donation drive in excess of the amount needed for the vests will go toward the purchase of the camera.

A donation page Has been set up.