Wayne County Sheriff K9 Unit Enhances Protection with New Dogs and Ballistic Vests

Wayne County Sheriff K9 Unit Adds New Dogs and Ballistic Vests

In Wayne County, great things are happening within the local sheriff’s department. A local Howell man, Tom Sperling, showed his community spirit by working overtime at a local Ford plant to donate a bulletproof vest for a K-9 police officer, Gunner.

The vest is a special protective gear for Gunner, a patrol dog in the K9 unit, who is a crucial part of the team. The protective K-9 vest is from Brady’s K-9 Fund. Brady’s K-9 Fund was started by an 8-year old boy in Ohio who saw a need to protect our four-legged law enforcement officers.

Gunner’s handler, Cpl. Rick Cadez, describes the heart-stopping situation where Gunner was tasked with locating two armed men, without the protective gear of a bulletproof vest. Having this new vest will give him a lot more peace of mind going forward.

Brady’s K-9 Fund helped Gunner get his vest after his handler, Cadez, applied for it. It specializes in providing custom-fitted ballistics vests for police and military dogs. Since its inception in 2018, the Brady’s K-9 Fund has managed to provide protective vests for 1,137 dogs, both within the U.S. — at home and abroad. At present, there are 56 dogs on a waiting list.

In addition to receiving the long-awaited vest for Gunner, the Wayne County sheriff’s department has also been awarded a separate grant to purchase two new dogs for explosive detection and patrol work. This addition will bring the total number of dogs in the K-9 unit to six.

Working as a police dog involves numerous risks. According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, there have been five police dogs who have died on duty within just the first seven months of this year. In 2020, a total of 26 dogs died on the line of duty, with ten of them succumbing to gunshot wounds. This information underscores the importance of these ballistic vests in helping to protect our canine officers.

The relationship between the dogs and their handlers is profound. The dogs not only serve as their partners at work but also become a part of their families at home. With these vests, there is an increased hope that more of our K9 officers will get to come home safely to their families after serving their communities. Let’s ensure we don’t forget our local heroes!