PAPD receives vests for K-9 officers
Published 12:15 am Thursday, December 19, 2019
- Verna Rutherford of Port Arthur Industrial Group speaks during a presentation at Tuesday’s Port Arthur City Council meeting. (I.C. Murrell/The News) 12-17-19
More than a week before Christmas, Golden Pass LNG and two local organizations found themselves in a giving mood.
On Tuesday, Port Arthur Industrial Group and PAWS Beaumont donated four ballistic K-9 vests and four K-9 collars to the Port Arthur Police Department.
That followed a presentation from Golden Pass LNG to Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas, on behalf of the city of Port Arthur, for $7,731.
Port Arthur city councilmembers pose with Golden Pass LNG representatives who are holding up a display check to be donated to Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas during Tuesday’s city council meeting. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
The Port Arthur City Council passed a resolution during Tuesday’s regular meeting to accept the donations.
“We know [the collars and vests] will be put to a good use,” PAIG representative Verna Rutherford said. “First and foremost, top of mind of all of us in the petrochemical industry and our community leaders is the importance of safety, and this is just another way we’re able to contribute to the safety of our officers and the protection that stays with them.”
Also Tuesday, Port Arthur Police Deputy Chief Michael Fratus credited Port Arthur Industrial Group with “always coming through” for the department and the city.
“A lot of people don’t realize police canines are different from pets at home,” he said. “They aren’t just pets. They are a member of the family.”
About I.C. Murrell
I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
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