BEATRICE, Neb. - Police K-9’s provide crucial measures to police departments across Nebraska and around the country, 24/7 and that includes beloved pup “Toro” of the Beatrice Police Deportment.

Toro is soon to have an extra layer of protection.

At 10.5 years old, the British Lab Retriever is still going strong for BPD and through an application to a group known as Vested Interest, Toro will soon be in the field with his own kevlar protective vest.

“Typically, you think of the police service dog that runs into the building, chases down the bad guy and needs that protection,” BPD Officer Zac Lauenstein. “Well, Vested Interest feels strongly that every service dogs require strong protection.”

Officer Zac Lauenstein has long had Toro as his companion while on the job. Toro’s been with the department since he was eight weeks old, making him the youngest K-9 to be certified in the state of Nebraska.

His current role is being a single-purpose narcotics dog, trained to detect drug odor as well as tracking and evidence recovery. All of these can lead to unpredictable situations, which Lauenstein says makes kevlar protection crucial.

“Situations whether were on a track, or something breaks out where he can’t protect himself, this will give him that protection and a fighting chance to make it through that and some protection to make it through that interaction,” Lauenstein said.

Keeping K-9’s like Toro safe are important to police departments because of the crucial measures they provide police departments.

“It’s just invaluable,” Lauenstein said. “A dog’s nose… With the way AI is accelerating and technology exploding, and there still isn’t a device that’s as sensitive as dogs nose, is wild.”