Framingham Police Receive Donation For K9 Vest From Realtor

FRAMINGHAM, MA - Framingham police announced Thursday afternoon that the department's new K9 officer will receive a bullet resistant vest, thanks to a donation from a local realty company.

Lee Brown, the property manager at Water View Terrace, has worked for Chestnut Hill Realty for 10 years, beginning in her current role on June 20. She said she learned of the department's need for funding for the K9 vests and began to look into prices.

"Chestnut Hill Realty is a family-owned business, and we consistently support local community endeavors," she explained Friday. "The owner of Chestnut Hill Realty, Ed Zuker, maintains a vigorous charitable giving program and frequently contributes to local schools, community centers, and police and fire departments."

This donation was specifically targeted for Framingham's new K9 officer, Isco. Chestnut Hill Realty representatives, including Brown, presented a $500 check on behalf of Water View Terrace and Water View Village Thursday afternoon.

Isco and his handler, Officer Matt Mangano, will complete the Patrol K9 Handlers Course held at the Boston Police K9 Academy next week and attend the Narcotics Detection Class in August, according to a Facebook post from the police department.

"The Framingham Police Department appreciates the donations we have already received," according to the post.

Future donations to support the K9 unit by check to Massachusetts Vest-A-Dog, Inc. with a memo indicating Framingham PD K9. All donations will go directly to training, equipment, and supplies needed for the unit. The address is Massachusetts Vest-A-Dog, Inc., P.O. Box 48, Walpole, MA 02081.

"Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog’s primary goal is to ensure every Massachusetts K-9 has a bullet resistant vest," Brown added. "Chestnut Hill Realty is proud to support our city's police department."

This is the second charitable effort by Water View Terrace this summer, she added. Water View Terrace opened its community garden to Terrace and Village residents, collecting $20 per plot to allow residents to grow their own food. The $460 received was donated to the Sons of Mary Missioners. The donation helps with their efforts to aid the poor in Peru and the street children in the Philippines, Brown said.