Police - K-9 Unit
The K9 Unit was established in 1993. The K9 teams attend a 4 month training program to become certified patrol functions such as tracking for suspects as well as lost people, criminal apprehension, handler protection, and building /area searches. K9 teams attend additional training for the teams to become certified in narcotics detection to search and locate marijuana, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, heroin, hashish and methamphetamine. The K9s live with their handlers as part of the handler’s family. They patrol in a special vehicle modified for the K9 to ride in the rear of the vehicle. The vehicles are equipped with automatic door openers so the handler can release the K9 without being at his vehicle. K9 teams visit schools and groups such as Boy Scout troops to perform demonstrations and to make the community aware of K9 unit's effectiveness.