Left to right, Susan Ahlstrom, co-chair of the Ridgefield Prevention Council; Karen Facini, vice president and financial services manager, People’s United Bank, Ridgefield office; with Officer Shawn Murray and Loki, and D. Josh Reilly, senior market manager in the Danbury Market for People’s United Bank. —Tony Spinelli photo
Ridgefield Police K9 Loki is a lot safer these days, thanks to a donation of $1,200 to pay for his protective vest.
For now he wears a puppy-sized vest inherited from the previous K9, Zeus, from Zeus’s younger days. The money from People’s United Bank Ridgefield branch and the Ridgefield Prevention Council will pay for Loki’s full-grown vest, when he’s ready, said his handler, Officer Shawn Murray.
“The vest will stop a bullet, it will stop a knife, it will stop an arrow,” said Murray, as he patted Loki’s upper body to show how the vest will protect areas with vital organs.
The donation from People’s and the prevention council is much appreciated, said Capt. Jeffery Kreitz, spokesman for the department.
The K9 unit is largely privately funded, he said.
“It’s great,” Kreitz said.
Susan Ahlstrom, co-chair of the Ridgefield Prevention Council, said her group donated $350 toward the cost. The Prevention Council is part of the Ridgefield Coalition Against Alcohol and Substance Abuse.
Karen Facini, vice president and financial service manager for the local People’s United Branch at Stop & Shop on Danbury Road, said the bank officials were inspired to help when they heard about the department’s previous dog, Zeus, taking his last ride recently.
“We heard about the new dog, and wanted to do something to help,” she said.
The donors presented their check to Kreitz and Murray during an outdoor meetup with Loki on May 29.
Loki is a 22-month-old German shepherd imported from Hungary. He is trained in police work, including drug identification, missing persons tracking, and suspect apprehension.
He is named for the Norse god of mischief, known to fans of Marvel Thor comic books and movies.
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