WPD trying to win canine squad

By: 
Staff Report

    The Wilmington Police Department’s canine unit is one of 30 finalists in a contest to win a new sport utility vehicle that’s customized for the job they do.    
    The WPD canine Mao and his handler, Officer Kris Hopper are driving around in the department’s oldest vehicle, with over 119,000 miles on it. The squad needs to be replaced — and you can help them upgrade by voting for them.
    Vested Interest in K9s Inc. is giving a new Chevy Tahoe sport utility vehicle with a Police Pursuit Package to one eligible law enforcement agency’s canine team — the one that receives the most votes in the organization’s online contest.
    Voting started Oct. 1 and ends Oct. 31 at 11:59:59 p.m.
    Individuals can submit a vote at www.vik9s.org/suvgiveaway and click the link to view the entrant gallery. Enter a valid email address and click next. Scroll down to the photo of officers Hopper and Mao, and click on the image until a blue checkmark appears. Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the submit button, otherwise your vote won’t count.
    There is a limit of one vote per person per 24-hour period, regardless whether the person has more than one email address.
    The approximate retail value of the prize vehicle will be up to $50,000.
    Vested Interest in K9s provided Mao’s bulletproof vest. The non-profit’s mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies. Since established in 2009, Vested Interest has provided over 3,100 protective vests.