Miami Police Dogs Get Life-Saving Gear
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Miami Police K-9 unit dogs walked out of the police department Friday wearing some new gear meant to help them in the line of duty.
They wore their new, bullet and stab proof vests donated by a pet care product company called Pet Armor.
"The community has come together to help us do our job. It's important for us to showcase when people help us help them," said Miami Police Chief Rodolfo Llanes.
As the police dogs stood with their new vests Friday morning, Llanes, also took the time to remember one of their fallen members, a K-9 who died in the line of duty.
"In the year 2000, our police department lost a K-9 named Atlas due to a gun shot wound after he was shot and killed chasing an armed carjacking suspect. Atlas was deployed to arrest the offender. He and officer Cooper closed in on the offender and he turned and shot him Atlas point blank," said Llanes. "Atlas died several hours after surgery but the subject was arrested and is serving a life sentence."
He pointed out that due to the new design the dogs in their unit were now able to wear the ballistic vests.
Each vests came with a price tag of $950, but thanks to the company, they got them for free.