After a K9 officer named Krijger was shot and killed on Monday during a shootout in Norfolk, Virginia, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper donated enough money for the Norfolk Police Department to purchase ballistic vests for all their police dogs.
Krijger may have survived the shooting if he had been wearing one of the life-saving, bulletproof vests.
It is with heavy hearts we announce the loss of a loyal and dedicated member of the Norfolk Police Department. K9 "…
Posted by Norfolk Police Department on Monday, January 11, 2016
Upon hearing the news of Krijger’s death, Retired SEAL Jimmy Hatch, who is a former military dog handler, launched a campaign in Krijger’s name to help raise money to buy the protective vests for the department. Hatch runs the charity Spikes K9 Fund and volunteers with the department, and knew Krijger.
The kevlar vests cost around $2,200 apiece and therefore are not often within police department budgets to purchase.
Cooper knows Hatch from an interview he did last year about the SEAL’s time in Afghanistan. When he saw Hatch’s social media post he decided to donate the speaking fee for an upcoming lecture in Norfolk.
Hatch said that with Cooper’s donated funds he could buy 18 vests for Norfolk’s police K9 unit as well as some for Hampton-Roads’ units.
Hampton Police said they were at a loss for words at the news.
We are at a loss for words. Following the passing of K-9 Krijger earlier this week, CNN's Anderson Cooper has donated enough money to get a vest for every K9 at the Norfolk PD. Truly amazing.
Posted by Hampton Police on Thursday, January 14, 2016
The Norfolk Police Department will be honoring K9 Krijger with a private memorial service for the law enforcement community followed by an internment with full honors by the Norfolk Police Honor Guard on Tuesday, January 19, 2016. The public is welcome to pay their tributes along the funeral procession route.
R.I.P. K9 Krijger.
Please share this story if you support what Anderson did and would like to see all K9s equipped with protective vests!
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