Wareham Police Chief Richard Stanley would like to announce that on Thursday, February 16, 2012, the Wareham Police Department K-9 Unit was awarded two Hot-n-Pop units and a Kimono Bite Suit by Massachusetts Vest-A-Dog, Inc., for a total value of over $4,000. The Hot-n-Pop units are heat sensor alarm units for the rear of the K-9 cruisers that warn the handler when the cruiser is too hot for the K-9 partner, and also provides an automatic door opening device for the handler, which allows for convenience during calls and significantly increases officer safety. The bite suit is an important training item and tool for every K-9 officer and his partner, as well as an important tool with regard to public awareness of the abilities of the K-9 officer and his partner.

K-9 Officers Michael Phinney and Joseph Cardoza, along with their K-9 partners Rolf and Cago, along with Lt. Kevin Walsh, accepted the grant award at a ceremony at the Holliston, MA Police Department. Other than the Holliston Police Department, which is in the beginning stages of developing a K-9 Unit, the Wareham Police Department was the highest grant award recipient, having been awarded the heat sensor units and the bite suit.

Since 2000, generous donors and tireless volunteers have provided over 300 bulletproof police dog vests across Massachusetts. Noting the fragility of Police K-9 budgets and the lack of funding for training and K-9 equipment, Vest-A-Dog, Inc. has expanded its mission to provide further assistance to K-9 units across the state.

Chief Stanley and Lt. Walsh extended their sincere appreciation to the Vest-A-Dog program, its donors, and sponsors. The award was gratefully accepted, and the purchased items will be invaluable safety and training tools for the K-9 Unit of the Wareham Police Department in its endeavor to continue to be safety conscious and highly trained at all times.