ELLISVILLE, Mo. (AP) - An Ellisville police officer has received a $15,000 gift from the western St. Louis County town to help purchase a service dog for his diabetic infant.
KSDK-TV (on.ksdk.com/1FvB8r3) reports that the elected leaders approved the gift to Lieutenant Andy Vaughn from the city's benevolent fund.
Vaughn is a nine-year veteran whose 9-month-old son Sebastian was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in December.
The contribution will defray the $22,000 costs of a dog that can help monitor the child's blood sugar levels. Another $3,700 has been raised through private donations.
Ellisville Mayor Adam Paul says the fund was set up in 1991 and has only been used once before, to help a cancer survivor.