2 Tinton Falls Police Dogs Receive Bullet-Proof Vests
By GARRETT STASSE
Two of Tinton Falls unsung heroes got a leg up, thanks to school children and others who donated to purchase bullet-proof vests for the boroughs K-9 unit.
The Vested Interest Fund run by the Associated Humane Societies donated two bullet-proof vests to the Police Departments K-9 Unit to give them as much protection as their human handlers. The vests are valued at $895 each. There are three dogs in the canine unit and one already has a vest.
Theyve earned it, Chief Gerald Turning said.
Theyre everywhere. They work all over the county, he said of the unit. Theyve even worked in Ocean County on occasion and been effective crime stoppers, and earned a national award for training and performance.
The presentation was made by a societies representative, who said the fund was begun 10 years ago when a police dog was shot and killed during a confrontation with a suspect. Over the years, 1,000 vests have been donated to departments around the state and in Texas, Alabama and California.
All the funds are raised through donations and the vests for the two Tinton Falls dogs come at no cost to the town.
This is a busy squad. Sgt. Gerald Turning Jr., a unit member and the chiefs son, said the unit was instrumental in capturing a bank robber in May who was also wanted on a warrant from the U.S. Marshals Service. That happened in town.
He was a one-in-a-million bad guy. Hes in jail now, awaiting trial, Turning said.
There have been other, equally exciting events. A dog searching for a suspect in Hazlet smelled natural gas and stopped. Officers investigated the location and found the suspect attempting suicide by sticking his head in the oven. Theyve even been the subject of a television program on HGTV, which filmed their training field being rebuilt, thanks to a Girl Scout troop, in May.
The unit helped catch a burglar in Shrewsbury and car thieves in Ocean County, Borough Councilman Brendan Tobin. He also noted The dogs cost us very little. We get a lot of donations.
Their handlers are Cpl. Thomas Dennehy, who has Shane; Ptl. Anthony Turso, who has Shadow, and Turning, who has Franco.
Chief Turing said the dogs are in service for eight years and then are retired to live with their handlers.
Its no secret these dogs are family to us, Sgt. Turning said. Its great to know theyre protected like us now.
Read more about your town by picking up The Coaster at your local newsstand or subscribe today.
Published every Thursday.
