Four Columbia police K-9s will get body armor

Columbia Police Department K-9s Kane, Raf, Gorrit and Duncan will receive bullet and stab protective vests.

The vests will come from a non-profit organization called Vested Interest in K-9s, Inc.

“We are honored to have been selected for these vests,” says K-9 Unit Supervisor Sgt. Scott Hedrick.

Vested Interest in K-9s, Inc. has provided more than 2,600 protective vests.

Columbia police said their K-9s are invaluable assets to the department. All four assist in narcotics detection including area, article, and body search, as well as suspect tracking and apprehension.

Each vest has a value between $1,795 and $2,234 and weighs between 4-5 pounds.

The K-9s are expected to have the vests within the next eight to ten weeks.