A Lusby resident has stepped up to equip Calvert County’s newest police dog with critical protection, donating a ballistic vest for K9 Bane through a national nonprofit dedicated to outfitting working canines.
Beth Jazwinski personally delivered the life-saving vest to Deputy First Class Ryan Jones and K9 Bane at the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office. The donation, made in honor of her late father Andrew Jazwinski and his affection for dogs and service animals, ensures the department’s K9 unit now has full ballistic coverage for its 10 working dogs.
Jazwinski acted after spotting an Instagram post from Brady’s K9 Fund, a Florida-based organization that supplies protective gear to law enforcement K9s nationwide. Many agencies face budget limits that prevent purchasing such equipment, which matches the vests worn by human officers. The fund, inspired by 8-year-old Brady Snakovsky in 2018, has protected over 1,600 dogs using models like the lightweight LOF Defense Systems K9 StreetFighter vest, designed for comfort, quick deployment, and heat management.
K9 Bane, a 1-year-old German Shepherd-Belgian Malinois mix known for his energetic and hardworking nature, appeared as Day 2 in the fund’s annual “12 Dogs of Christmas” holiday campaign. The initiative spotlights deserving K9s to encourage sponsorships for vests. Jazwinski reached out to sponsor a dog in need and selected Bane due to his local Calvert County connection. The vest, valued at approximately $1,200 and inscribed “In loving memory of Andrew Honore Jazwinski,” arrived recently, with delivery occurring on a Tuesday or Wednesday based on agency announcements.
The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office expressed deep appreciation in statements shared across official channels, thanking Jazwinski for her generosity and Brady’s K9 Fund for its mission to safeguard these four-legged partners who detect narcotics, track suspects, and assist in community protection. With this contribution, all active K9s in the department are now equipped with bullet-resistant vests, enhancing safety during high-risk operations.
Brady’s K9 Fund continues its work to close the gap for the estimated 50,000 working dogs in the U.S., many still without proper armor due to funding shortages. The organization relies on individual and community donations to fulfill requests.
