We would like to wish all of you a Happy and Safe Holidays!!! Please be same and enjoy your time with your friends and family.

Petersburg Bureau of Police Department’s K9 Loki has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) charity located in East Taunton, MA whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 3,400 protective vests in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a value of $5.7 million dollars.

The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.

The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $950.00. Each vest has a value between $1,744 – $2,283, and a five-year warranty and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718

Petersburg Bureau of Police Department’s K9 Loki will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 3,300 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a value of $5.7 million dollars.

The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.

The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $950.00. Each vest has a value between $1,744 – $2,283 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the off-duty death of Life Member John McCormack. John was 44 years old and died due to complications related to a medical procedure. He was kicking colon cancer’s butt when he died. John was a federal agent here in Richmond and was heavily involved in the local community. If you ever went to the Church Hill Irish Festival or Central VA Highland Games and Celtic Festival you would have seen him with a hurley stick in his hand and he was trying to convince you join him in the sport of hurling. Please keep his wife and son and all of his family in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult times.

A celebration of life service will be held on Friday March 1, 2019 at 11 am at St. Paul’s Baptist Church (4247 Creighton Road Richmond, VA 23223).

His family has asked that in lieu of flowers anybody that would like to make a donation in remembrance of John please do so by using the below donation button or by mailing a check to MRPES:

or:

{Please note in the memo line the donation is for John McCormack.}

The 2018 Highland Games and Celtic Festival are coming up soon. They will be Saturday October 27 – Sunday October 28 at Richmond International Raceway. Come see us at our tent. We will be selling our merchandise and our Pipes & Drums will be playing.

Update 11/17/2017:

As part of the Bates / Cullen Memorial fundraiser we are PRE-SELLING memorial challenge coins and t-shirts. We will have a very limited supply of unisex (men’s) shirts and challenge coins at the event itself so order them before the event if you want to guarantee you get one. If you miss the pre-sale then they will be available first come first serve at the event. No exceptions. We will have youth, ladies and unisex (men’s) shirts available by PRE-SALE ONLY. Again, the day of the event we will ONLY have unisex shirts. The coin is in the shape of the aviation wings and is 3.5 inches from tip to tip, the center is roughly 1.5 inches in circumference. The shirts are navy blue with metallic silver writing.

Update June 26, 2017:

The artwork for the shirts and coins have been approved. Shirts are available for pre-sale until July 14, 2017. For pre-order only they come in unisex (men’s), ladies and youth sizes. The day of the event we will only have unisex (men’s). Coins are available for pre-sale also. All sales are final. You can have them shipped or pick them up at the event. Those that are shipped won’t be shipped until after the event. You can order them through our store. The graphics are below. The direct link is:

https://squareup.com/store/mrpes-dot-org

Update June 19, 2017:

Come one, Come All. Support the family of Special Agent Michael T. Walter by attending a fundraiser at The County Seat, located at 3883 Old Buckingham Road Powhatan, VA 23139 on Saturday July 22, 2017 from 5pm – 10pm.

The band One Way Ryde will be playing, The Baffa Academy will have Irish Dancers, MRPES Pipes & Drums will be playing. We will be selling memorial t-shirts and challenge coins too. We will have a silent auction, raffles and a 50/50 drawing too. Also, 10% of the sales from the buffet will go to the family. All of the proceeds will go directly to the family of Special Agent Michael T. Walter who was killed in the line of duty on May 27, 2017 in Richmond, VA.

Shirts and coins will be available through pre- order also. Stay tuned to the link to pre-order.

All donations are tax deductible since MRPES is a 501 (c) 3.

Update June, 11, 2017:

There have been many questions about how people can help the family of VSP Special Agent Michael Walter. Currently, the VSPA and MRPES are accepting donations. We are in the beginning stages of planning a fundraiser and possibly selling t-shirts and challenge coins. Anything that we do will be coordinated with the family.

At this time they are overwhelmed with what has occurred and planning the funeral. Thus any fundraising we do outside of donations will not be until well after the funeral. If you would like to donate money now you can go to the below PayPal button or mail a check to the below address. Please note on your donation that it is for Special Agent Walter.

Funeral arrangements have been finalized.

Visitation: Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Powhatan High School – 1800 Judes Ferry Road, Powhatan Virginia 23139

Funeral: Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 1:00 p.m.
Powhatan High School – 1800 Judes Ferry Road, Powhatan, Va. 23139

A reception will be held at Powhatan High School, for all those in attendance, immediately following the funeral service.

The interment will be a private graveside service.

MRPES
PO Box 26962
Richmond, VA 23261

VSPA ERF
6944 Forest Hill Ave
Richmond, VA 23225

Check out the new MRPES store. There are all the items that you will find at any event. Also, some of the previous year items have been discounted.  You can get them from any member or from out web store.

You can find the web store above under the store tab or you can go directly to:

https://squareup.com/store/mrpes-dot-org

PUBS                                                                                                                              

1. O’Tooles Pub 4800 Forest Hill Ave, Richmond, Va 11:30am – 12:30pm
2. Rosie’s Pub 1548 E Main St, Richmond, Va 1:00pm – 2:00pm
3. Sine Irish Pub 1327 E Cary St, Richmond, Va 2:50pm – 3:50pm
4. The Local Eatery 1106 W Main St, Richmond, Va 4:00pm – 5:00pm
5. Tilted Kilt Pub 2070 Waterside Rd, Prince George, Va 5:30pm – 6:30pm
6. El Arriero Mexican 12204 S Crater Rd, Petersburg, Va 7:00pm – 8:00pm
7. Longstreet’s 302 North Sycamore St, Petersburg, Va 9:00pm – 10:00pm
8. PENDING PENDING 10:30pm – 11:30pm
9. Rosie’s Pub 1548 E Main St, Richmond, Va 12:00am – Close                  

On Saturday March 11, 2017 the Society and the Band will have a tent at the 17th Street Blarney Bash in Shockoe Bottom. We will be there all day 11 am – 5 pm. We will have shirts, pins, patches, and stickers to sell.

On Sunday March, 12, 2017 the Band will be in Baltimore, MD marching in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

On Friday, March 17, 2017 the Band will be playing at various locations thourhgout the Metro Area. Keep an eye on their Facebook Page for a detailed list.

On Saturday March 25 & Sunday March 26, 2017 from 8 am until 5 pm the Society and the Band will be at the Church Hill Irish Festival. We will have shirts, pins, coins, patches and stickers to sell.

Come see us!!!