By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
- Los Angeles County — After the 2022 line-of-duty death of LASD K-9 Jack, his handler Dep. Stephen Williams partnered with Aardvark Tactical to develop a modular ballistic K-9 vest that protects upper chest and neck without sacrificing mobility. Police1
- Field-driven design: Input from ~30 K-9 units (including LASD SEB) shaped the vest; an optional protective collar/yoke can be attached based on threat. Police1+1
- Proof of need: Williams’ next partner, K-9 Kid, was later shot and survived while wearing a vest—underscoring the coverage gap that the new design targets. Police1+1
- Legacy: Each vest carries Jack’s name and end-of-watch date; rollout comes as SoCal agencies mourn Burbank PD K-9 Spike. Police1+1
LOS ANGELES — A tragic loss in December 2022 has led to a new generation of ballistic armor for police dogs. Following the killing of K-9 Jack during a barricade standoff in Gardena, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Stephen Williams worked with Aardvark Tactical to reimagine canine armor—focusing not just on stopping rounds, but on protecting the high-risk strike zone (upper chest and neck) while preserving speed and agility for deployments. Police1+1
Williams told reporters the decision to pursue a redesign came from hard lessons: many existing vests restricted movement, so dogs often worked without ballistic protection on high-risk calls. Aardvark’s CEO Jon Becker convened a yearlong development effort with about 30 K-9 teams, iterating on fit, flexibility, and coverage. The result is a modular vest with an attachable/detachable ballistic collar (yoke) that teams can configure to the mission. Police1+1
The case for enhanced coverage intensified when Williams’ new partner, K-9 Kid, was shot and survived thanks in part to a vest worn during another incident. Each new vest now ships with Jack’s name and end-of-watch etched into it—a quiet tribute intended to prevent future losses. The rollout also follows the recent death of Burbank Police K-9 Spike, a reminder of the risks working dogs face alongside their handlers. Police1+1
Agencies across Southern California are evaluating the system as a mission-tailored protection option—especially units that balance dynamic entries, tracking, and long-duration searches, where traditional vests can slow a dog or reduce endurance. Police1