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PHOTO: MSP K9 Zekk joins members of New England Promotional Marketing and Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog yesterday to honor his late friend Frankie.
PHOTO: K9 Frankie, End of Watch July 26, 2022. Frankie is seen here receiving the George Hanna Memorial Award Bravery, the state's highest law enforcement honor. Frankie and his partner, Sgt. David Stucenski, were awarded Hanna medals for apprehending an armed car theft suspect who opened fire on them in Springfield several years ago.
Yesterday, New England Promotional Marketing, a Wilbraham-based firm, donated more than $17,000 to Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog in memory of Massachusetts State Police K9 Frankie, who was killed in the line of duty in the summer of 2022. The money was by NEPM through the sale of 3,440 T-shirts and hoodies featuring Frankie's likeness. The proceeds benefit Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog's work to provide ballistic vests and other safety gear to protect police dogs.
Frankie, who along with his handler Sergeant David Stucenski was assigned to the MSP Special Tactical Operations Team, was fatally shot while trying to apprehend a violent wanted felon in Fitchburg on the afternoon of July 26, 2022.
After Frankie's heroic sacrifice, Cheryl Orluk, a sales associate at NEPM, was moved to action. She worked with MSP to create a design for T-shirts and sweatshirts honoring Frankie. Per Sgt. Stucenski's wishes, the recipient for the proceeds of the sales was to be Vest-a-Dog. Ms. Orluk and her colleagues at NEPM coordinated two pre-order sales of Frankie-themed merchandise, ultimately raising $17,210 to enhance safety for police dogs across the state.
Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog will use the donation to fund the purchase of protective vests, as well as crates built to transport dogs injured in the line-of-duty by medical helicopter under Nero's Law.
Among those attending the check presentation were Sgt. Stucenski and his partner Zekk. Their current assignment includes teaching public safety agencies and emergency medical professional schools about Nero's Law, which allows ground and air ambulance transport of police dogs injured in the line-of-duty.
The Massachusetts State Police are extremely grateful to New England Promotional Marketing and Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog for their tremendous support of state and local police dogs, as well as to all our citizens who purchased shirts or hoodies in honor of Frankie.
PHOTO: MSP Sgt. David Stucenski and K9 Zekk with representatives of New England Promotional Marketing and Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog at yesterday's check presentation.
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