Chapel Hill police dogs to get new safety vests

Chapel Hill, N.C. — A charity is providing new protective vests for two crime-fighting canines with the Chapel Hill Police Department, the agency said Thursday.

The bullet- and stab-proof vests, which cost about $1,000 each, are being donated by Vested Interest in K9s Inc., a Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization that raises money to provide vests for police dogs across the country.

Chapel Hill police said the organization recently held a Groupon campaign that raised money to provide a vest for department dog Kearney. Another vest paid for with donations will outfit Jax.

There are 16 dogs and 11 handlers in the Chapel Hill Police Department K-9 Team, which was formed in 1990. All the dogs are trained to detect drugs and assist with searches for lost people and fleeing suspects, police said.