Mibo

MIDDLESEX TWP — A member of the township police department will be safer than ever next year thanks to an anonymous donation from a township couple.

The police department's K9, Mibo, will get a new protective vest as a result of the donation, which came after the department posted on Facebook to see if anyone in the community would be interested in contributing to help buy the $1,550 vest. One couple took them up on the full amount.

The vest, known as the “Armored K9 StreetFighter Vest,” features the “highest soft body armor protection level,” while maintaining a low weight, according to a Facebook post by the department.

“It's a regular, same type of vest the officers wear,” said police Sgt. Randy Ruediger. “It's bullet resistant. It has some knife protection.”

The department first posted that it was looking for money to fund the purchase in November. It quickly spread to community forums and feeds as residents shared the post for friends and family to see.

Before long, the department obtained the money, the full $1,550 from a township couple who preferred to remain anonymous.

“That amount was a lot more than usual,” Ruediger said.

He explained that residents frequently support the department, often donating around $50 to help with purchases such as this one.

Now, with the full amount and more accounted for, any donations that exceed the purchase price will go toward buying a camera system for the K9 Unit, the department said in a social media post.

Ruediger said the department expects the vest to arrive in about six weeks.

In the meantime, Mibo has not been in a situation in which a vest was needed, Ruediger said.

If one should arise, however, officers can rest assured that he has the latest in K9 protective vests.