Through the generosity of Buzbee, Schiller and the efforts of DDBHC, K9s4COPs and its K9s4KIDs initiative has gifted two explosive detection canines to the College Station main campus worth $50,000. The K9 officers and the University police handlers will begin training next month at the Harris County Sheriff Department Training Academy.
“K9s4COPS is hands down one of the country’s best charities,” said Tony Buzbee ’90. “Untold lives have been saved and millions of dollars in contraband have been confiscated due to their work. It goes without saying, I am proud to be a small part of it.”
In June of 2011 Kristi Schiller formed K9s4COPs to fund the donation of trained K9s to law enforcement agencies around the country. This idea came after hearing of a department on the news that could not replace their canine due to budget restraints. In just five short years, K9s4COPs has placed over 118 K9s in 31 states and recently Paris, France after the terrorist attack in November 2015. They have removed more than $125,000,000 in cash and contraband from the streets. K9s4COPs has been directly responsible for more the 1,400 Felony arrests in the last five years.
“K9s4COPS is truly honored to assist in establishing the Texas A&M University first campus K-9 Unit by presenting the gift of two explosive detection canine dogs,” said Kristi Schiller, founder K9s4COPS. “K9s4COPS have worked closely with University Chief Michael Ragan ’81, Texas A & M President Dr Michael Young and Chancellor John Sharp ’72 to meet the specific needs of Texas A&M. These highly trained dogs, along with their handlers, will provide a constant sense of security to the 60,000 students that currently infiltrate the campus daily. These detection dogs will also provide another layer of security during special events and at Kyle Field during football season. These K9s4COPS gifts were underwritten through the generosity of Aggies – Houston attorney and Texas A&M Board Regent Tony Buzbee ’90 and 12th Man Board Member John D Schiller ’81 along with the support of the Diamonds & Dirt Barrel Horse Classic held annually at the Brazos County Expo.”
After the Sandy Hook Elementary school campus shooting in December 2012, Kristi Schiller launched the K9s4KIDs initiative. K9s4KIDs provides highly trained social K9s to school campuses to keep our children safe against potential threats from active shooters and campuses drug-free. To date, 85 applicants from 27 states that are in need of a K9s4KIDs dog. With your help together we can have a positive impact on many lives.
The annual Diamonds & Dirt Barrel Horse Classic held in College Station, TX benefits K9s4COPS charity which purchases and places professionally trained K9s with law enforcement agencies across the country.
