Sandy Marcal

Sandy Marcal

Founder and President

Sandy Marcal is a lifelong animal lover who has dedicated many years to promoting the wellness of animals. She has dedicated over the past 21 years working with K9 teams across the country and assists in securing funds for the organization’s programs and services. Ms. Marcal established the “Healthcare for K9 Heroes” program which offers a pre-paid medical insurance grant for self-funded K9 units in 2016. She produced and hosted an internet/cable television production called, “The Pet Zone” featuring monthly pet professionals for four years. Previously she organized fundraising events for over a dozen different non-profit animal rescue organizations. She currently shares her life with 4 rescue cats.

Jodi Roos

Board Member

Jodi Roos is a Licensed Veterinary Technician and Office Manager of a Veterinary Hospital in Vermont. She is also our part-time Office Manager at Vested Interest in K9’s. Jodi became a part of the VIK9’s team when she started volunteering in 2012. She stumbled upon the organization while looking for an organization to donate her husband’s 1st K9 with a vest and never looked back.
Jodi has been working with animals since 1992. She is an avid animal lover and supporter of law enforcement and the military.
Jodi currently resides with a retired police K9 named Tori who is a Dutch Shepherd, a 4 pound Toy Fox Terrier named Nacho Cheech, 3 cats named Raphael, Greego, and Poppi, and her bird who is a Green Cheeked Conure named Bacon.

Tanya Everett

Board Member

Tanya Everett left her position as an HR Director/Risk Manager for a county in Washington State to move with her family to East Tennessee. Her other half is a recently retired K9 Sergeant with the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office and both of his K9s have received body armor from Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. To pay the generosity of donors forward, Tanya began volunteering her time to Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. in 2018. Tanya is the mother of 9-year-old Belgian Malinois, K9 Havoc and 6-year-old German Shepherd, Jaeger and resides in Jefferson County, Tennessee.

Lieutenant Victor Guerrieri, Sr.

Lieutenant Victor Guerrieri, Sr.

Advisory Board Member

Lieutenant Victor Guerrieri is a retired 38 year veteran of the Chicago Police Department. As Commanding Officer of the Chicago Police Department K9 Unit, he was also assigned to SWAT, Dignitary Protection, and Special Operations Watch Commander. Commanding Officer CPD Mobile Field Force, and Tactical Training Unit.

Sergeant Brian Berdine

Sergeant Brian Berdine

Advisory Board Member

Brian Berdine retired from the Johnson City Police Department, NY in 2017 due to a health condition. Brian has been working with police K-9’s since 2001 beginning as a decoy and then becoming a handler. Brian is also a New York State Certified Police Canine Trainer and Examiner for Patrol, Narcotics Detection and Explosive Detection. His partner of 10 years, K-9, C.J recently passed away from cancer. Following the passing of K-9 C.J. Brian was re-assigned to the Detective Division and then promoted to Road Patrol Sergeant, however he continued to work with K-9 Teams in his region. K9 C.J. was a recipient of a ballistic vest through the first Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. Groupon Campaign in 2012.

Officer Brian Kelly

Officer Brian Kelly

Advisory Board Member

Officer Brian Kelly has been a member of the Colorado Police Department (CSPD) since January of 2001.  He is currently assigned to the CSPD’s Specialized Enforcement Division Tactical/K-9 Unit.  Officer Kelly has been a handler with the CSPD’s Patrol Canine Unit since August of 2006 and is currently working his third certified police canine, Zev.  His former partner, K9 Broc was a recipient of a ballistic vest from Vested Interest in K9s. Officer Kelly is a Certifying Official with the NPCA, Field Training Officer and Firearms Instructor.  He served twenty-six years in the United States Air Force.

Master Sergeant Ryan Stark

Master Sergeant Ryan Stark

Advisory Board Member

Master Sergeant Ryan Stark is a 21 year veteran of the Oklahoma City Police Department.  He has been assigned to the K9 Division since 2006, as well as the Tactical Unit. MSgt. Stark is currently partner with his third K9 partner, Kayne, a German Shepherd trained in patrol and narcotics detection.  After the untimely death of MSgt. Stark’s second partner, Kye, who was killed by a suspect in the line of duty in 2014, Stark’s five year old daughter, Tayte raised over $8,000 on behalf of Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.  In, 2015, Kayne was one of seven recipients of a ballistic vest from the donated funds his daughter raised.

Investigator Erik Johnson

Sergeant Erik Johnson

Advisory Board Member

Sergeant Erik Johnson is a 14 year veteran of the Jonesboro Police Department in Jonesboro, Arkansas.  He has been assigned to the K9 Unit and SWAT team since 2012.  His current duty assignment is the JPD Street Crimes Unit and the K9 Unit Coordinator.  Sergeant Johnson was partnered with K9 Gabo who sadly passed away in January 2020.  On December 11, 2018, K9 Gabo was shot 5 times during a standoff while trying to apprehend the armed suspect.  4 rounds passed through Gabo critically wounding him but the 5th and most likely the fatal round was stopped by Gabo’s ballistic vest which was donated by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. in 2015 in Memory of K9 Rocco of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.

Deputy Justin Galbraith and K9 Fazzo

Sergeant Justin Galbraith

Advisory Board Member

Sergeant Justin Galbraith has been a member of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio since December of 2007. He is a certified Taser Instructor, OC Spray Instructor, and Defensive Tactics Instructor. He is assigned to road patrol, the K9 unit, and works with the narcotics division. His K9 partner Fazzo received a donated vest from Vested Interest in K9s, Inc in 2017. Deputy Galbraith and Fazzo were the winners of the Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. first Chevy Tahoe Sports Utility Vehicle giveaway in 2018.

Officer William Perez

Advisory Board Member

Patrol K9 Handler William Perez is a eleven-year veteran of the Des Moines Police Department in the State of Iowa.  Officer Perez is currently assigned to third watch patrol with his partner K9 Hobbs.   Hobbs is a four-year-old German Shepherd and currently a recipient of a ballistic vest through Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. Officer Perez and Hobbs have been a canine team since June of 2020.  Hobbs certified last year nationally at the 2022 USPCA PD1 & Narcotics Detection trials and finished 4th overall with several other awards.  Hobbs recently certified at the National 2023 USPCA PD1 trails and finished 5th overall. Hobbs currently holds the nationwide record for putting on his ballistic vest in eight seconds. Officer Perez is also a firearms instructor, open sight rifle instructor, field training officer, Gracie Survival Tactics Level 1 Instructor, and an acting supervisor.  Officer Perez is an 8-year Army combat veteran who deployed to Afghanistan in 2010-2011 with his Scout Sniper Reconnaissance Unit out of Camp Dodge Iowa.