Protective vests donated to sheriff
Two K-9 officers at the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, Harlin and Mikey, have received protective vests from a nonprofit organization called Vested Interest in K-9s with assistance from Robert Willens LLC, an accounting firm based in New York City. The vests protect against gunfire and knives.
Since its inception in 2009, Vested Interest in K-9s has provided 5,794 vests to K9s nationwide. Each vest costs about $1,800.
The department also was mourning the death of K-9 Satch, who served with Deputy Christopher Tompkins from 2015 until Satch’s retirement in 2022. He attended the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Canine Academy and was certified in tracking, evidence search, criminal apprehension, handler protection and explosive detection.
According to the Putnam Sheriff’s Office PBA, “Satch was known for his hatred of water bottles, his playful squad room antics with coworkers and the distinguished gentlemanly way he would lay down.”
He was named for Lt. Michael “Satch” Neuner, who died in 1997 fighting a house fire in Brewster.
