K9 Officer’s Story Inspires Protective Vest Sponsorship

Every day, working dogs across the nation put their lives on the line, serving alongside law enforcement officers as trusted partners, protectors, and heroes. With extraordinary senses and unmatched bravery, police K9s help detect danger, apprehend criminals, and keep communities safe.

Tyler recognizes that while K9s face life-threatening risks in the line of duty, they don’t always have the protection they deserve. This critical need is one of the reasons Tyler has partnered with Spike’s K9 Fund to sponsor five life-saving K9 ballistic vests to protect eligible working K9s across the country.

The initiative to work with Spike’s K9 Fund is inspired by one of Tyler’s own — a leader who once walked the path of a K9 handler himself, whose trusted partner was protected by a Spike’s K9 ballistic vest.

From Officer to Handler: A Career Built on Service

Before Tyler, Matt Engle, Senior Director of Product Strategy for Public Safety, dedicated his career to public service. He spent several years in the National Guard, followed by six years in law enforcement, including two as a K9 handler in Virginia.

Matt’s connection to police K9s began long before he wore the badge. As a kid, Matt looked up to his father, a Florida police officer, and was inspired by one of his fellow officers — a K9 handler and his dog, Jazz. Matt had the opportunity to interact and play with Jazz and even remembers the dog’s personalized baseball card the handler gave him.

“I was eight years old at the time and I thought it was the coolest thing,” Matt said. “My dad being a cop and getting to see K9s in action as a kid, it just was always a desire of mine.”

Later in his career, when he was hired as a police officer, Matt’s chief sat him down and asked him where he wanted to be in five years.

“A K9 handler,” Matt shared. “And there I was about four years later, working with a police K9.”

For the two years he spent as a K9 handler, Matt worked with a shepherd named Titan, who was imported from the Czech Republic and spent time in Boston as a state police K9 before becoming Matt’s partner.

“Titan was about three, almost four years old when I got him. The handler there switched to the aviation unit, and they were rehoming the dog, so they gave him to our agency in Virginia,” Matt said.

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Partnerships In and Out of the Field

Once he received his K9 partner, Titan, Matt spent a large portion of his time in training. “There’s about a three-month process for the training, but you also never stopped training,” Matt said.

Matt and Titan trained both on and off shift, often setting up a track in the park when there were no active calls.

“All the training was actually for me, not the dog. He knew what he was doing,” Matt said. “I had to learn everything, all of his little behaviors and responses and what it all meant.”

During his time as a handler, Matt had the opportunity to work with Jimmy Hatch, a fellow Virginian and the founder of Spike’s K9 Fund, who helped Matt’s agency with training.

“He would put on the bite suit and take bites from my dog and the other dogs, and he would critique us and give us feedback,” Matt said.

Throughout training with the founder, Matt became well acquainted with Spike’s K9 Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing protection, care, training, and support for both working and retired K9s in military, law enforcement, and search and rescue. At the time, Matt’s agency didn’t have the budget for K9 protective gear, and Spike’s K9 Fund was able to provide a life-saving vest for Titan.

Matt maintained a relationship with the organization over time, and years later, he had the opportunity to help return the favor — this time from the other side. Drawing on his personal experience, Matt helped develop Tyler’s 2025 vest sponsorship to donate ballistic vests for five more working K9s across the country.

A Life-Saving Layer of Protection

The experience of working with K9s in law enforcement gave Matt critical insight into just how vulnerable working dogs can be in the field.

He shared that while many handlers form deep connections with their K9 partners, they are still required to follow protocol, which means allowing K9s to be exposed to danger first in a situation, before the officer would typically engage. This reality highlights the importance of protective gear not just for the officers, but for their trusted four-legged partners as well.

“They’re very much in harm’s way, so having that ballistic vest is very important,” Matt said. “And then not only having a ballistic vest, but the ones provided by Spike’s K9 are very ergonomic and lightweight, allowing the dogs to maintain their agility and stay comfortable.”

The Price of Protection for K9 Heroes

Despite the number of agencies with active K9 units across the country, many operate with limited budgets prioritizing training and equipment for officers, often leaving little to no funding left for K9 protective gear.

The financial commitment for a K9 program begins well before protective gear is even considered. Acquiring a single working dog can cost thousands of dollars, and ongoing expenses such as specialized training, veterinary care, and daily upkeep quickly add up. Additionally, ballistic vests for dogs are not standard issue for most agencies and come at a premium cost, ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 per vest.

Because of these financial challenges, many K9 teams must rely on fundraising, donations, or support from organizations such as Spike’s K9 Fund to ensure their dogs are properly protected in the field.

“Spike’s K9 Fund sees that gap and wants to help,” Matt said. ““They understand that these dogs aren’t just tools — they’re partners, and they deserve the same protection.”

Amplifying Impact Through Partnership

Through their dedication and hands-on support, nonprofits like Spike’s K9 Fund make a powerful impact on the safety and well-being of working dogs. Organizations like Tyler can help further the mission by contributing resources, raising awareness, and supporting initiatives that protect handlers and their K9 partners.

“Tyler’s goal as an organization is to continue the mission of public safety and propel it forward,” Matt said.

As part of this commitment, Tyler gives back to the public safety community through partnerships with nonprofits like Spike’s K9 Fund, helping to provide support where it’s needed most.

The mission to protect working K9s is far from complete, but Tyler is proud to help five more brave dogs get the gear they deserve.