
A police K9 with the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office will soon receive an extra layer of protection funded by a local businesswoman and nonprofit.
Patricia Settimo, owner of an Arby’s restaurant on Route 17 and daughter of a late Michigan police officer, has donated a protective bullet- and stab-resistant vest to K9 Saber, the department announced in a news release Monday.
The vest will be emblazoned with the name of Settimo’s father, Det. Lt. Richard J. Scott, a 35-year employee of the Roseville Police Department in Michigan. The vest will arrive in eight to 10 weeks.
“As soon as they got him, as soon as I found out they had a K9, I said I’m vesting him,” Settimo said Tuesday.
Saber was first brought to the force last year and started work Dec. 4.
Settimo’s sponsorship cost her about $950, but each vest donated by Vested Interest in K9s is worth between $1,744 and $2,283. Vested Interest in K9s is based in Massachusetts and has provided more than 3,500 protective vests to police dogs since it started in 2009.
Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Shelley Ward said the sheriff’s office budgets funding annually to cover vet bills, dog food and other miscellaneous K9 supplies and equipment. This year, fiscal year 2020, that budget item is $3,200.
Ward said the sheriff’s office most likely would have bought a protective vest for Saber even without donations, but said Settimo immediately volunteered to sponsor a vest for the K9 through Vested Interest in K9s.
“We could pay for the vest ourself, but we have people in the community who want to donate,” Ward said. “We had Patty step up. We had many other people who also voiced wanting to do it. Why wouldn’t we accept that when that money that’s being donated can be used for something else?”
Saber couldn’t have received a protective vest earlier, anyway. Saber is around 2 years old now, meaning he is full-grown and can be fitted for a vest.
“As soon as they had [a K9] in Yorktown — that’s where Arby’s is, that’s where my business is — I’m taking care of that dog,” Settimo said. “That’s the dog protecting Arby’s.”
Saber is the third police K9 she has “vested,” she said. The other two were in King & Queen County and at the Roseville, Michigan Police Department where her father worked.
Settimo’s sister, Sharon, has also sponsored about 170 vests for police dogs throughout the country in honor of their father. Together, they equipped the Detroit Fire Department with 278 animal oxygen masks, the sheriff’s office said.
Settimo was awarded the Peninsula Crime Line Civilian of the Year Award in June.
Ward said the sheriff’s office doesn’t rely on community donations to fund supplies and equipment for the K9, but will happily accept donations for equipment they otherwise would not buy.
Settimo has already bought other equipment for Saber, including an app that uses temperature gauges inside the police vehicle to monitor conditions for the dog. If it gets too hot, the app will alert up to five different people by phone and let the dog out of the vehicle.
Ward said the sheriff’s office was not planning on buying the app subscription, but the offer of a donation from Settimo made it possible.
Settimo also has bought narcan and a medical kit, called a “Buddy Bag” for Saber. She also donated 11 medical kits to Hampton Police dogs in 2017.
Ward said the community support for Saber has been voiced by many residents, and is apparent from Settimo’s donation of the protective vest.
“It’s a win-win situation,” Ward said.