Crown Point police to add K-9s
By Kitty Conley kconley@post-trib.com January 31, 2012 3:54PM
Crown Point K9 oficer Jeff Eldridge and his partner Buddy show how they locate narcotics during a demonstration at the Dog Days of Summer in 2009. Buddy, who is the only active K-9, will not be alone as the Crown Point Police Department recently received a $35,000 donation to add three new K-9 units. | Scott R. Brandush~Sun-Times Media
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CROWN POINT — Police Chief Pete Land was excited to tell the Board of Public Works and Safety at its Jan. 18 meeting that the Police K-9 account has just been enriched by a donation of $35,000 from Dean White.
The money will be used to purchase police dogs, for training for the handlers with the dogs, and for equipment and any other requirements related to the expanding Crown Point K-9 patrol.
Until recently the Police Department had two police dogs, but one had to retire early because of a degenerative spinal condition. When they retire they get to live out their lives as a pet of their handler.
Hawk is part of Officer Chuck Sprague’s family. Jim Hawk, owner of Hawk Development, donated him.
Hawk’s K-9 replacement has been chosen and is a German shepherd. The dog’s name will be determined when the officer and dog start school together.
His handler and partner will be Patrolman Stanko Gligic. They are expected to begin their six-week training in April.
That would put the second K-9 team on the street no later than this summer.
According to Land, the dog and Gligic will be matched at the time training starts.
“Unless the department has a name selected, which in this case we do not, the name used will usually just be whatever the dog has now,” said Land.
Gligic was promoted from second-class to first-class patrolman earlier in the Jan. 18 meeting. He had finished his probationary period after coming to the city from the Valparaiso Police Department.
After Hawk’s retirement, the city has only one K-9 officer, Buddy and his partner Patrolman Lloyd Eldridge, on duty. Tim Heidbreder, owner of Buddy & Pals, donated Buddy. Buddy and Hawk started with the city at about the same time.
The $35,000 donation will allow the police to establish a permanent K-9 shift, with at least one police dog on the streets at virtually all times.
The city is looking at increasing the number of patrol shifts from the current three to four. The establishment of four K-9 partners would allow those skills to be available to every shift.
“The current price for a dog and six-week training program is approximately $13,000,” said Land at the meeting. Even with the addition of future third and fourth K-9s, the funds would still be able to help feed and care for the animals.
“We are very appreciative of Mr. White’s donation and interest in our Police Department and specifically our K-9 program,” Land said. “Obviously, to receive such a generous donation will allow us to be in a position to solidify our plans and objectives with the K-9s, both in our short-and long-term goals. Mr. White, and his entire staff that we communicated with on this donation were all very gracious to us.”
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