Donated vests provide
protection to K-9 cops
By jeanette m. eng
Staff Writer
VERONICA YANKOWSKI Sporting new vests for their protection, Marlboro K-9 officers Vaik (l) and his partner, Joe Chaplinski, and Lex (r), with his partner, Jerry Arminio, join Chief Robert Holmes at headquarters before hitting the road for another tour of duty.
MARLBORO — Two of Marlboro’s finest, K-9 officers Lex and Vaik, received bullet-resistant vests on Feb. 27.
The donation from the Associated Humane Societies of Newark is part of its statewide effort to provide K-9 officers with the same protection and benefits as their human partners.
According to Roseann Trezza, assistant director of the Associated Humane Society, this effort was prompted by the death of K-9 officer Solo, who was shot to death on June 1, 1998.
The German shepherd from the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office was killed while trying to apprehend a suspect in an armed robbery.
Another incident that Trezza cited was the death of K-9 officer Git Ander of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, who was shot to death in the line of duty in September 2001.
"As [Git] was subduing a perpetrator, police arrived on the scene and mistook Git for a stray," Trezza explained.
"When they tried to pull Git off the suspect, the dog bit and officers shot Git 11 times. The K-9 was trained not to release except on his handler’s command."
Git’s handler was Sgt. John Gillespie.
In addition, Trezza said, the events of 9/11 have shown the importance of law enforcement K-9 officers.
"There aren’t enough words to express the appreciation of all who have been touched by past events and the images of officers and dogs working together in their rescue efforts," Trezza said.
Marlboro Patrolmen Jerry Arminio and Joseph Chaplinski, who work with the K-9 officers, posed with their tail-wagging partners after receiving the donated vests.
"Now I feel that he’s got the best protection that he can get," said Chaplinski, who is Vaik’s partner.
"He’s outfitted just like an officer," he added.
K-9 officers Lex and Vaik joined the police department two years ago.
Imported from Czechoslovakia, the two purebred German shepherds had training similar to that of sports dogs, according to Lex’s partner, Arminio.
When Arminio and Chaplinski initially applied to have K-9 officers added to the department, they received an overwhelming response from local businesses and private citizens.
"We received $21,000 in donations, which we needed to bring Lex and Vaik over and prepare our equipment for them," Arminio said.
In addition, the dogs’ veterinary services are donated by Animal Health Care, Route 9.
The police cars designated for the K-9 officers have been modified to accommodate them safely.
"If the temperature rises to a certain point, the windows automatically come down, a fan comes on and the car horn sounds to alert us," Chaplinski explained.
"We also carry a remote button which pops open the K-9’s door in case we need their immediate assistance," the patrolman added.
Arminio and Chaplinski said the value of the K-9 officers to police work is evident in their growing presence in the field and in past success stories.
"They are an added tool to police work with their ability to track and detect scents," Chaplinski said.
"They are a benefit to the town and the department," he added.
The dogs have been used in missing persons cases and robberies and are sometimes asked to assist in neighboring towns.
"In the case of a robbery, the dogs will pick up the freshest human scent, and they can track it to where the suspect parked the car," Arminio explained.
"The dogs communicate in certain ways while they’re tracking," added the patrolman.
The K-9 officers are also a big asset to community policing because "the kids love ’em," Chaplinski said.
Lex and Vaik have already received 16 weeks of training at the Union County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit.
Under Sgt. John Gillespie’s patrol class, they graduated in August 2002.
This month they will return to receive 10 weeks of drug training, where they will learn to sniff out narcotics.
This training has also been given as a donation.
According to Chaplinski, a K-9 can be trained in the detection of drugs, arson, bombs and bodies.
However, he said, they can be cross-trained only once.
The officers and their K-9 partners live together and serve together.
Having been an officer for 13 years, Chaplinski said he has enjoyed the past two years with Vaik as his partner and "best friend."
The Associated Humane Societies has succeeded in providing 550 vests throughout New Jersey’s police departments.
With each vest costing $450 and the budget dwindling, however, donations are always needed to continue the job.
To contribute to the effort, call (973) 824-7080.
Donations may be sent to the Vested Interest Fund, in care of the Associated Human Society, 124 Evergreen Ave, Newark 07114.