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“A K-9 program is a valuable tool in deterring crime, finding missing persons, apprehending criminals, preventing crime, and making our community safer,” the department wrote in a letter asking for private donations.
The dog will be a German shepherd, imported from Europe, and trained for police work, the letter said. Once in town, the dog will work and live with an officer and will be on call 24 hours a day, and will also do special demonstrations at schools and events in town, the letter said.
The program had been stopped after the department’s last K-9 officer, Rocky, died in April after choking on an object during a training exercise. Rocky had been with the department since the summer of 2012 and started patrolling last November.
The board will have to agree to allow the police department to enter into a $12,000 contract with Ventosa Kennels for a dog, six to eight weeks of training, and lodging and other equipment for the dog, the agenda for the meeting said. The project is being funded through private donations in the Police K-9 Special Project Fund, the agenda said.
The selectmen's meeting will start at 9 a.m. in the Police Station Training Room. View the complete agenda by visiting the town website.
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