Gastonia, North Carolina –

 

The Gastonia Police Department will have a new level of protection for their six canine officers.

 

The Gastonia Police Foundation will donate 6 canine ballistic vests for use when dealing with armed suspects or any extremely high-risk situations. 

 

According to Sgt. Thomas Doby, “the new vests will also be stab resistant, which will prevent injuries from puncture wounds, which normal body armor does not prevent.” The vests are made by Protech Body Armor , and will weigh about 7 pounds. Each vest is valued at $1,200.

 

Point Blank Body Armor also donated a canine ballistics vest made by Point Blank to the Gastonia Police Department.

 

The Gastonia Police Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports and promotes community policing and crime prevention, and whose purpose is to help law enforcement be more effective in doing their job while improving relationships between the police and the community.  The foundation’s website is www.gastoniapolicefoundation.org.