School helps S. Ogden police dog get ballistic vest
Officer Mike McNeely lets Clay Thompson, 6, kindergartner, pet his canine partner Xander, 3, at Quest Academy in West Haven. The students at Quest Academy raised money for the protective vest for Xander and he visited with McNeely to show it off to the students.
Justus Beckman, 13, pets South Ogden's police dog Xander, 3, at Quest Academy in West Haven. Xander and his partner, Officer Mike McNeely, were visiting the school to show off Xander's new protective vest. The students at the school raised the money to buy Xander the vest. "I think he's amazing." Beckman said.
Brinley Ellsworth, 10, 5th grader, pets Xander, 3, with his partner Officer Mike McNeely at Quest Academy in West Haven. McNeely and Xander were visiting the students because they raised the money to buy Xander his new protective vest.
Leonardo Ballard, 9, center, pets Xander with other students in line at Quest Academy in West Haven. Xander was there with his partner, Officer Mike McNeely, to visit with the students because they raised money for his new protective vest.
Officer Mike McNeely and his canine partner Xander, 3, at Quest Academy in West Haven. The students at Quest Academy raised the money to outfit Xander with the protective vest and Xander came to show it off to the students.
WEST HAVEN — Students at Quest Academy Charter School were more than happy to pay the penalty fee for not wearing their uniforms to school recently.
That’s because the money went to a great cause.
Xander, the South Ogden police dog, was in need of a ballistic vest, so the students decided to wear their street clothes to school and pay the one dollar fee, which in turn went toward purchasing the vest for the K9.
So now Xander is able to protect the citizens of his community as well as himself.
“My dad is the prosecutor for South Ogden City,” said the school’s secretary, Brandy Beckman. “He was telling me they got a new police dog but he didn’t have his own ballistic vest yet and was really in need of one so I presented the idea to our Pride Patrol, which is a student council here at the school.”
South Ogden patrol officer and K9 handler Mike McNeely said Xander is a 3-year-old German shepherd from the Czech Republic. He has been under McNeely’s care for about a year and a half.
“His duties are patrol and narcotic,” McNeely said. “His training is daily and weekly with other K9s and handlers.”
McNeely said Xander’s vest is made by Elite K9 and provides ballistic and stab protection.
The students were very excited about helping to get the vest for Xander, Beckman said, so they organized a “dress down” day where students could toss their uniforms aside and wear regular clothes – at a price.
“I thought it would be a cool experience, so I decided to pitch in,” said ninth-grader Chloe Spendlove. “It helped me learn how to be charitable and made me feel like a better person. I know it’s going to help the dog stay safe while he’s out helping others.”
Ninth-grader Quincee Beckman said the students were able to raise $800 for the vest. South Ogden matched the rest.
“We presented the check to the city earlier this year,” she said. “It was a cool experience. They were telling us stories about how they send the dog in first. If the dog is protected it’s a good feeling. They are there for us so we should be there for them.”