Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Police raise private funds, order K-9

Efforts by the Gurdon Police Department have paid off as officers have raised enough money in private funds to purchase a drug dog for the department.

According to Gurdon Recorder/Treasurer Tambra Childres, the dog has been ordered recently but it is not known when it will arrive. She said the dog will be ordered from the Netherlands by the trainer who is in Arkansas. Once the dog is trained, Officer Chris Russell, who has been selected to be the dogs handler, will have to travel to the trainers location to receive hands-on instruction.

Although the police department has not yet reached its full goal, Childres said enough money was available to get the dog ordered. The department will still have to purchase equipment for Russells patrol car and materials for a dog kennel.

Russell and Officer Darrin Cooper solicited private donations for the dogs purchase. Childres said donations were given by businesses and individuals. Russell was also the guest speaker at a recent Gurdon Rotary Club meeting in an effort to get the word out about the project.

Once the dog is on patrol with Russell, he expects to see a rise in drug related arrests, he said. A hit on a vehicle by the dog will give officers the right to search it for drugs.

Russell said he hopes that the dog not only helps officers in making drug arrests, but he hopes it helps deter some drug activity in the community.

Besides assisting with drug arrests, the dog will be trained in search and response, attacking and as a cadavar dog.

Russell said he and the dog will assist other area departments when requested if they are available.

The dog cost $9,500.

Childres said a contest will be held to select the dogs name.