Patriots center David Andrews supports Massachusetts State Police charities and retired K9s through customized cleats

The Massachusetts State Police and the State Police Association of Massachusetts are grateful beyond words to New England Patriots starting center David Andrews, who is supporting the men and women of the MSP and their families through the National Football League’s My Cause, My Cleats program.

To that end, in the Patriots game on Monday Night Football, David will be wearing one half of a gorgeous pair of custom cleats hand-painted in an MSP French and Electric Blue theme. On his other foot, David will wear a cleat honoring a charitable organization he has long supported, the Warrior Dog Foundation, which trains retired military and police dogs to assimilate into post-service forever homes or provides a sanctuary for these heroic animals to live out their lives.

Following Monday’s game, David will autograph the cleats, which are being auctioned online through the NFL Auction site, with the proceeds raised from the purchase of the MSP cleats to benefit the State Police Association of Massachusetts’ Benevolent Fund and the Massachusetts State Police Memorial Foundation.

On Tuesday, David and members of the MSP got to see the cleats, which were designed and hand painted by Mark Corliss of Spilt Milk Tattoo in Hyannis, all on his own time. The cleats were displayed during an MSP K9 Unit training exercise. David, a passionate dog lover whose family includes two German Shepherds, got to observe some of the training as MSP dogs searched the snow-covered field in a series of exercises to locate narcotics, firearms, and other items that had been hidden beforehand by their Trooper handlers.

David’s discussion with members of the MSP K9 Unit showed just how knowledgeable he is about law enforcement dogs, and the members of the unit enjoyed speaking with him about how their care for and train their canine partners. Lieutenant Colonel Scott Warmington, Deputy Superintendent of Department, presented David with an MSP sweatshirt and challenge coin in gratitude of the lineman’s ongoing support of the MSP and of law enforcement in general. Trooper Patrick McNamara, vice president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts (SPAM, the union that represents MSP officers at the rank of Trooper and Sergeant), and Trooper Phillip Giardino, who runs the Memorial Fund, were also present to express their organizations’ thanks to David.

Proceeds from the auction of David’s MSP-themed cleats will be split between SPAM’s Benevolent Fund and the MSP Memorial Foundation. The Benevolent Fund provides financial assistance to first responders and their families during times when they are unable to perform their duties due to extended illness or injury, and also provides resources to families who have lost a member who served in the public safety community. The MSP Memorial Foundation awards annual academic scholarships to children of MSP employees and also assists families of first responders in need. David and his wife Mackenzie have been the top donors to the MSP Memorial Foundation during each of the past two years.

The other cause dear to David’s heart, the Warrior Dog Foundation, was founded by a former Navy SEAL with the mission of transitioning our nation’s working K9s – who have dedicated their lives to serving our country and our communities — from their operational environment into civilian retirement. The Foundation provides mental and physical rehabilitation to the four-legged veterans so they can be adopted into a forever home; if this is not possible, they are cared for by the Foundation for the rest of their lives. The goal is to help these canine heroes retire and live the rest of their lives with dignity and love. David has supported the Warrior Dog Foundation through customized cleats in previous years, and this year is supporting both the Foundation and the MSP charities. David’s Warrior Dogs cleats are also available to bid on through the NFL Auction site.

We are extremely thankful for all David Andrews has done, and continues to do, for first responders and military and law enforcement dogs. As we watch him make his blocks and protect his quarterback Monday night, we will be reminded once again that he is not only an athlete but a gentleman as well, a champion not only on the field, but off it as well.

All photos by Massachusetts State Police: