Flint Police K9 Officer Edo received a bullet resistant vest in a special ceremony today, after a crowdfunding campaign started by a neighborhood association successfully raised $3,500 online to buy the vest.
Officer Edo is a German shepherd, born and trained in Poland before being donated to Flint last year as the city’s sole K9 officer.
“Flint had been without a K9 unit for almost a decade,” said Cpt. Leigh Golden, in a statement released by the city.
“The outpouring of support from the public was amazing.”
Edo mostly does suspect tracking right now, but he’s also now fully trained in explosives detection, according to Flint spokesman Jason Lorenz.
“The effort to get Ofc. Edo his vest was borne from concern in the community,” Lorenz said in an email.
“When the issue of whether or not he had a vest was raised and the answer was ‘no,' the community pulled together the efforts to buy him one out of concern for his safety.
“That is what makes this whole series of events so special, the community at large actively sought to contribute to Ofc. Edo's ongoing care and safety.”
Lorenz credits Flint Neighborhoods United for starting the campaign, with local companies, organizations and schools jumping in to donate the costs of his care and even pledging to organize a concert to raise money for another K9 officer.
