In April, Council approved the Cocoa Police Department to accept the donation of 4 K9 specific vests from the Space Coast Police K9 Foundation to help protect Cocoa PD's K9 unit as they continue to protect and serve the citizens of Cocoa.
The Space Coast K9 Foundation was established in 2021 to help support police K9 handlers in law enforcement agencies throughout Brevard County and surrounding areas. The money raised from the Space Coast K9 Competition every year, directly supports K9 programs in and around the Space Coast through the Foundation. Members of Cocoa's K9 unit serve on the board for the Foundation. The board of directors is committed to focusing on helping law enforcement K9 teams be the best they can be through enhanced training, equipment, resources, and community connections that reach far beyond what local governments can provide. Each year, the Space Coast Police K9 Foundation partners with the Cocoa Police Department, and other community partners like the Brevard Kennel Club and other sponsors, to present the Space Coast Police K9 Competition, an outreach event that raises awareness about the important role of police K9 programs in local communities and how they help improve public safety. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, November 19th at USSSA Space Coast Stadium.
The Foundation's plan is to provide resources and funding assistance to requesting agencies that demonstrate a need such as unfunded training costs, equipment such as bite suits, sleeves, scent boxes, and other detection aids, unbudgeted veterinary expenses, therapy dogs, crime prevention and public safety events and outreach, and any other need that helps the police K9 team as a whole.
Through the Foundation's partnership with the Cocoa PD, they were made aware of the need for these vests for the K9 officers. They are K9 officer specific carrier vests for the officer to assist with his duty assignment.
