PORT ANGELES, Washington — The Port Angeles Police Department's K-9s Freddy and Solo now have new protective vests after a donor-led community effort, according to a MyClallamCounty/KONP report by Pepper Fisher.

The outlet reported that Paul Collins, owner of EnviroClean Northwest and a K-9 handler whose dogs are trained to detect mold and fungi, started the effort after learning that the department's two police K-9s were serving without ballistic protection.

Community donors helped fund K-9 safety equipment

Collins told KONP that many departments struggle to fund both police dogs and protective equipment. After speaking with Chief Brian Smith and Officer Whitney Fairbanks, who helps lead the Port Angeles Police Department K-9 team, he said he reached out to community businesses and organized the vest effort.

“A few business owners came together and we made it happen,” Collins said, according to the MyClallamCounty/KONP report.

The report identified other supporters as Joe Marvel with Warehouse Furniture and The Blackbird Coffeehouse. Collins said the vests had to be protective against ballistic threats and knives while staying lightweight, flexible and comfortable enough for working dogs.

Officer says Freddy and Solo will be safer on dangerous calls

According to the report, Collins worked with Canarmor, a Canadian company, to have the vests made to the dogs' measurements. He said the company helped with shipping after tariff costs affected the discount.

“The Port Angeles K9 Program is very appreciative of the donation we received of two ballistic vests for K9 Freddy and K9 Solo,” K-9 Officer Whitney Fairbanks told KONP. “Our K9s are now going to be safer and more protected when they respond to dangerous situations.”

Fairbanks also told KONP that community donations help the K-9 program purchase safety equipment, training equipment and cover costs connected to acquiring new K-9s when a dog is ready to retire.

For Support Law Enforcement readers, the Port Angeles story is a practical example of community backing turning into specific safety equipment: two named K-9s, a local donor network, and protective gear intended for dangerous calls where handlers and dogs may have to move first.

Sources reviewed

Editorial note: ThinBlueNews used the local source-backed account and a real source photo. The article omits the private contact phone/email published in the source article, avoids adding unverified police-call details, and uses no AI-generated K-9 or officer imagery. No paid promotion, DMs or outbound messages were used.