West Penn Township police are taking steps to improve effectiveness in the use of K-9 units for law enforcement.

On Wednesday, Chief Brian Johnson took possession of a bullet-resistant and stab-resistant vest and immediately launched a training session with 2-year-old Gunner, a German shepherd, one of two K-9 resources in the township.The purchase of the vest was made possible though a fundraising program coordinated by township resident Shawn Phillips and his sister Debbie Huegel of Tamaqua."We were hoping to raise $1,300, but we raised more," said Phillips on Wednesday at West Penn Park.Huegel made it happen by setting up a GoFundMe account."He needed a vest for the dog, and since everyone else has a GoFundMe account, why not," Huegel said.Phillips said donations were accepted from local residents. One local business donated $500.Phillips, former sergeant with East Penn Township police, is a strong advocate for the use K-9 units in law enforcement."Being a former police officer, I know that K-9 officers are an important tool for any environment," Phillips said.The vest was purchased from Hounds on Working Leashes, Allentown.Robert Ford of HOWL said his business has provided similar vests for K-9 units in Montana, New Jersey and Florida.In Pennsylvania, the group has supplied K-9 security vests for police departments in Allentown, Catasauqua and other Lehigh Valley police departments.West Penn Township's other K-9 resource was placed in service in 2014 and is handled by officer Melissa Ruch.Police dogs are specifically trained to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work.They're deployed in drug and explosives searches, searching for lost people, looking for crime scene evidence, and protecting their handlers.Police dogs are taught to respond to hand and verbal commands.In many jurisdictions, the intentional injuring or killing of a police dog is a felony.