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gathered with Traci Holliday of Vesting America's Police K-9's for these photos.
By Editor Becky Watts
ZEBULON - The Pike County Community has come together to outfit the City of Zebulon Police Department’s first K-9 officer with a police vest. $800 was raised to fund the vest in the space of just one afternoon!
The Georgia Chapter of Vesting America's Police K-9's is a subsidiary of Tread Armament Corporation and is dedicated to providing bullet/stab proof vests for K-9 officers of Georgia. The vests are the lightest on the market—weighing only 2 ½ pounds—and are made of the thinnest material available so that the K-9 dogs can be as comfortable as possible as they work.
The vests are made of 13 levels of Kevlar and insulated with a 1,000 count thread. They are also flame resistant, stab resistant up to a 4 inch blade and bullet proof at a level IIIa so it can stop up to a .44 magnum point blank.
Fundraiser organizer Traci Holliday advised that Vesting America’s Police K-9’s obtains each vest from the manufacturer, Bullet Blocker in Boston, and that each vest costs $800.
Traci said that she met Officer Trustin Brazer at a training exercise where she was taking pictures of the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office K-9’s for their K-9 vest fundraiser. “He was interested in getting a vest for his new K-9, Boss,” she said.
Boss is a 2 ½ year old Belgian Malinois. He is certified in narcotics, detection, tracking and apprehension. Boss began working with Officer Brazer, his handler, on November 1, 2016. Officer Brazer has been a part of the Zebulon Police Department since 2015.
Traci worked with the Zebulon Police Department to set up the fundraiser and posted it online last Friday morning. By that evening, the vest was fully funded! “Your community is awesome,” she said. “I have never funded a vest in less than a day!”
Andrew Mauney of AJ&H Services does contract work with the Pike County School System. He saw the fundraiser online and got specifics from Officer Brazer when he saw him in Zebulon during lunch.
Andrew then talked with Traci and donated $500 toward Boss’ vest. “We are truly grateful for his generous donation,” she said.
Andrew grew up here and said that it is important to give back to Pike County. “It is nice to be able to do something for you the county that you grew up in.” He thanked God for the opportunity.
Community support rounded out the final $300 that was needed to get Boss the protection that he needs while working on the job.
Boss was measured for his protective vest today, and it will be ready in 8 to 10 weeks. Thank you to Andrew Mauney and all who donated toward a vest for Boss!
Vesting America's Police K-9s is a community project of Tread Armament & Weaponry. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GeorgiaVestingK9s
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