From the Aberdeen Police Department:
The Aberdeen Police Department K-9’s Sam and Arco will be receiving ballistic vests thanks to a nationwide GROUPON EVENT that has raised over $335,000.
The “Occasions ” campaign for Groupon Grassroots to outfit police K-9’s with bullet and stab protective vests ran February 15th through March 5th at 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time. Vested Interest in K-9s, Inc. was the nationwide non-profit organization and charity partner selected by Groupon Grassroots to participate. The online $10 donation suggested interested persons purchase a GROUPON (a tax deductible donation) through the secure website where all funds were allocated to purchase ballistic vests for our four-legged crime fighters who put their lives on the line for the community and their partner.
Vested Interest in K-9s, Inc. will be providing over 350 law enforcement dogs nationwide with the protective body armor in memory of K-9 Rocco of the Pittsburgh Police Department who sacrificed his life in the line of duty in January of 2014.
All vests will be embroidered with the sentiment, “In Memory of K-9 Rocco, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police”.
Vested Interest in K-9s, Inc. a 501c (3) organization is still accepting donations through their website: www.vik9s.org and via mail P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.
In 2013, Vested Interest in K-9s, Inc. partnered with Groupon and was named as one of “The Best of 2013” campaigns. The nonprofit raised $155, 537.33 in just one week, which provided ballistic vests for 163 law enforcement dogs in 30 states. There are an estimated 30,000 police dogs throughout the United States.
Vested Interest in K-9s, Inc. announces their 2015 color calendar now on sale for $15.00 online at www.vik9s.org. Proceeds from the sales will provide bullet and stab protective vests for police dogs actively working without the potentially lifesaving equipment.
ABOUT VESTED INTEREST IN K9S, INC.
Vested Interest in K-9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA. Whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. Each vest costs $950 and has a 5 year warranty. The nonprofit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four legged K-9 Officers.
Through private and corporate sponsorships, Vested Interest in K-9s, Inc. provided over 1100 law enforcement dogs in 39 states with protective vests since 2009.
The organization orders the U.S. made vests exclusively from distributor Regency Police Supply in Hyannis, MA. Who also does the custom embroidery on the body armor.
New K-9 graduates as well as K-9’s with expired vests are eligible to participate. The program is open to law enforcement dogs who are US employed, certified and at least 19 months of age.
For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Tax deductible donations and event listings are via the website: www.vik9s.org.
Let me get this straight, the taxpayers can’t afford to protect the people hired to protect them?? Shame on our elected officials for not setting aside the funds needed to purchase the needed safety equipment. It is not the responsibility of a non-profit to purchase needed equipment but that of the taxpayer. These mom and pop local governments are a complete joke. A government that doesn’t actually govern and decide what is needed and provide it, is only deserved by those that lack the fortitude to pay their fair share of taxes. I can see America turning into Greece where most people avoid paying taxes (estimates of 80%). I guess I am too dumb to actually pay taxes…
“provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement” – It’s for the dogs, dumb-ass. Just another opportunity to say we are under taxed.
If you want to get on a campaign, how about one to buy body cameras for all of law enforcement. I was reading that it eliminates 80% of the abuse claims by the perps. Cameras in the patrol cars have really been beneficial to prevent drunks from claiming they weren’t staggering around.
Steppy,
You missed the whole point which doesn’t surprise me one bit. The point was, let me repeat, it is up to our elected officials to spend tax dollars wisely and it is their job to provide the vests or safety equipment for the police officers (and their canine assistants), not the job of a non-profit. While nice that someone cares enough to do it, the fact is that the taxpayer is getting something for free. A dead or disabled cop costs the local government more not to mention the lost work hours, training and human capital invested in their skill and craft.
FJ,
Didn’t miss a point, it’s right at the top of your glutinous, taxaholic head. Government is not the country moron – working people are. Working people are taxed to pay for necessary services, not every damn thing you money grabbing shits think up. The only thing I would want for free is that they fire your deadbeat ass.
The country created a government and the government is needed to have a functioning democracy–both depend on each other for safety, security and funding. Your race to the bottom in which other’s pay for the things needed to have a functioning government by the people is the malaise that has affected many other countries that think governments can survive without taxation or in which you are absolved from paying because others will. As an example, not long ago I read a story about fire in which the local volunteer fire dept let a home burn to the ground because the homeowner chose not to pay the volunteer support fee required. The homeowner believed that the volunteer fire Dept should spend their resources for someone that didn’t contribute. Lesson learned, if you don’t pay for it, you shouldn’t receive the benefit. unfortunately, in many instances his model doesn’t work such as a snow storm, catastrophe, education and many other public services.
First of all, we have a republic not a democracy, which is supposed to safeguard us against ‘it takes an interdependent village’ idiot like you.
Sure, the border jumpers are getting free EBT cards, free medical and subsidized housing – and almost 50 percent of the country does not pay federal taxes. So, plenty of folks do not have skin in the game.
But the rest of us pay plenty – too much. So, before you ask for another damn dime, stop things like the 250 million spent on the MD healthcare website that never worked. Stop the $250k to be spent on old 3D tech at Aberdeen… stop the millions upon millions of dollars wasted.
With all the waste and fraud you should be ashamed to claim that we get anything for free. In fact, you want to save on worthless money – try giving back your salary.
open,
Yes a republic elected through a democratic vote. Legally your are correct but in general terms it is a democracy. At least at the local level, the fact that we have a federal republic, it is relevant in only a minor way. Let’s not split hairs here, I believe you a fine with others funding the government as long as you aren’t the one doing it, hence I called you a free loader. It is not the job of a non-profit to pay for vests for dogs or humans charged with protecting the public! It is nice and appreciated. My point was and is that you are getting something out of someone else’s charity and that isn’t the way it is supposed to work but you will take it as long as you aren’t the one paying for it. You can either show your class or your ass and your ass isn’t looking too good. As far as who pays me and what I make (not that it would be any of your business) doesn’t depend on the taxpayer or charity from a non-profit.
As long as none of my tax dollars are used for this program I think it’s a cool idea. Can non-law enforcement citizens legally buy body armor in MD.
Freestate,
More like free loader, that what you are. You have no choice as to how the tax dollars are spent or what taxes you must pay, if you did I am pretty sure no taxes would coming from you. I am sure you would be one of those that screams about your cost but thinks that anything anyone does for you in the public service should be free too..
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/fire_department_watches_home_b.html