Beta Mu purchases bullet-proof vest for Page PD's K9 officer

The Page Beta Mu presented the $1,500 donation to the city of Page on Feb. 22.

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The Page Police Department’s K9 unit recently received a $1,500 donation to purchase a bullet-proof, ballistic vest for K9 Officer Hasy.  Officer Hasy is a three-year old Belgian Melanois.


The Page Beta Mu Sigma Phi Sorority presented a check to the City of Page on Feb. 22 to help protect the newest addition to the Page Police Department.  Beta Mu decided to donate the funds when Marsha Bratcher, Secretary for the Beta Mu, Page branch, met Officer Hasy and her handler Officer Crystal Thinn at the Page Police Department’s “National Night Out” event.


“We have always given back to the community one way or another.,” said Bratcher. “Each agency that we give to do different things for the community; charitable type of work, it’s our way of giving back to the community and it goes back towards helping people in Page and this year we had enough to give the vest to Officer Hasy.”


The costs to train a K9 officer range from 15,000 to 20,000 dollars, which does not include food and veterinary care. Some city or state departments are not always sanctioned to purchase ‘non-human equipment’ especially in departments where K9 officers have never been specifically included on the roll call.
In January officer Hasy, and her handler officer Thinn, were the first K9 unit to be inducted into to Page Police Department. There was an absolute need to add the unit to the growing community of Page due to the rise in drug busts. K9 officers are trained to enter a scene unarmed and subdue, sometimes, armed suspects that are out of reach of the rest of the unit. So, without protection the K9 officer is at high risk of injury.


Upon meeting with officer Hasy and officer Thinn, Bratcher, who loves dogs, discovered the safety of a K9 Officer was always compromised due their fearlessness. Bratcher felt she could bring the problem to the Beta Mu because the protection of the K9 officer is a community-oriented issue. Ballistic vests are custom fitted to each K9.


The vest will protect the animal from being stabbed, kicked or shot making the vest a very efficient piece of equipment to protect an irreplaceable officer. Beta Mu knew that was a priceless situation and found the funds for Officer Hasy’s vest in the money leftover from last year’s events. The vest is currently on order and no date for delivery has been confirmed.


Beta Mu Sigma Phi is a branch of the globally recognized Beta Sigma Phi International Sisterhood, a community oriented friendship organization that has been in Page since 1961 and raises funds for non-profit organizations such as the Cuddles Outreach, John Wesley Powell Museum, the Soup Kitchen, etc. One of the more recognized fundraising events is Christmas in November held at the Elk’s Lodge during the Balloon Regatta. Beta Mu has been “quiet” and not usually open about the charitable donations they give, according to Bratcher, and are now “making a little noise” to help bring an awareness and participation for events they hold annually. They currently have eleven members in the Page area and are open for new members to join.