Michigan State Police K9s will be safer in the field thanks to a donation made to the MSP by a Kalamazoo company.
Michigan State Police Captain Michael Brown with the Fifth District in Paw Paw tells us Michael “Tonto” Alexander, the owner of Nite Beams Products, offered the agency funds to purchase beacon lights that can be added to the K9 harnesses.
“We have 43 K9 units across the state of Michigan, and the generous business owner donated enough money to outfit every one of the K9s basically from St. Joe down here all the way to the Upper Peninsula,” Brown said.
Brown says when state police K9s are tracking suspects or missing persons, they can go miles into the field, and especially if it’s night, the dogs can be difficult to follow.
“Especially in rural areas, lots of people flee alongside the freeways in rural areas, or they’ll flee a house, and the K9 units are out there by themselves or with another person for support. But they’re out there in all kinds of terrain. It’ll be great visibility for them from the air when needed.”
Brown says the beacons are simple small lights that can make a big difference.
The $1,800 donation for the lights was made to the state police in Mattawan on Thursday.
