Police departments cutting costs, but not K-9 units - Page 1

Police departments across the country are cutting back big-time, but mostly keeping the K-9 units the same.

Good article about the recessions' impact on our Police Departments.

http://www.telegram.com/article/20100305/APN/303059570

The article is absolutely correct. When a good K9 is teamed with the right partner:

1. they have the most cost effective unit on the street. 
2. the most productive unit
3. the most intimidating unit - when need be
4. the kindest unit - when need be
5. the fastest unit in street pursuit
6. the best tracking of an illusive subject
7. etc. etc. etc.

The K9 ask for no retirement or benefit packages.  Never complains about weather or work conditions.

WHY WOULD ANYONE CAN A K9??????????????????

Ninja,
Good article. 

The city I work for is going through an economic crisis just like the rest of the country.  Our PD is affected by budget cuts and changes have to be made.  We haven't gotten a raise in over 9 years, now the city is talking about cutting salaries.  The thing they did a few years ago was raise the starting salaries for new recruits, now an officer fresh out of the Academy makes more than I do.  I have several unique job skills and certifications that take years to achieve, that most of these rookies will never get.  I think in the past year or so we had 30 officers transfer to other agencies, each officer had a minimum of 8 years on and some 12 years or more, most were SWAT operators, Detectives and Academy instructors much like my self.  There is no reason to stay when you have a skill set like that and can make a significant amount more going to a different agency or Federal.  There are a few Officers who make mediocre cops, IMO.  Not proactive, not go getters, not tactical or lacking in Officer safety, ok guys but not great cops when they quit we miss them as a person but don't really care that they quit.  The 30 I mentioned above that left were great cops and great guys / girls.  I miss working with them, they can't be replaced easily. It was a big hit to our PD.  Many others are putting in applications to go and find better cities to work in or Fed jobs. 

They are discussing cutting our K9 unit, we have a vacancy right now that won't be filled in the K9 unit.  They have stated when the older dogs retire they will not be replaced.  They have just cut 8 or 10 spots form the next Academy class.  For the city manager the K9 unit is an expensive unit to maintain.  It's not just the cost of the dog, but the 4 months of salary in a handler school, the extra vehicles and the special equipment for the vehicles.  The food, vet bills and the man power, etc.  Our Chief just took our unit stats to the city manager to (I hope) fight for our unit.  I can tell you in January alone my dog apprehended numerous armed robbery subjects, that never would have been caught.  Those arrests resulted in confessions of several other armed robberies and dozens of felony warrants served.  Another K9 officer caught 2 armed robbery suspects in the act, chased them down and deployed his dog on both guys.  The result of that apprehension has led to solving 3 more armed robberies and two homicides.  That never would have happened with out the dog.  A third K9 officer single handedly apprehended a serial bank robber 20 minutes after the robbery.  This guy had robbed 3 banks in the past 6 months in our city alone.  This is just what a few of us did in January, this doesn't count all of the other arrests and narcotics seizures, yet we have to justify our existence every month. 

I am kinda stuck for the next few years, because I donated my personal dog to the PD and technically they own him.  So, I won't leave until my dog retires and goes with me.  I love my job and I really like working for my PD, they have been good to me over the years.  But, I don't like the city government, they could care less about the PD.  I am looking around for other ventures and other PD's and keeping all of my options open.  If they decide to cut our K9 unit many guys will leave right away, me being one of them.  I am confident I can find another job making the same meager salary, probably a whole lot more.  I tell all of the new officers "If you became a cop because you needed a job or wanted a paycheck it's a really bad job."  For me it's a second career that I've always wanted to do and I love the work and the excitement, I didn't take the job for the money.  But, I''d prefer to work for a city th

Slamdunc,  Thank you for your service and the use of your K9. I too have been in those positions were the rookies come in near my pay grade (it is a real moral killer).  I am fortunate to have been able to retire early and can work with dogs and play with my grandsons who are young but think think a 6 month old gsd that is full of energy is their best friend. Of course I supervise them closely.

Also, we have a Sheriff  that promotes K9's every chance he gets.  For example: Our SO K9 Units just finished 1st in a Regional Trail.  The following day He had them on the local news(2 stations), Newspapers (3 papers), promoting their accomplishments..  He is popular with the citizens therefore the K9 program is too.

One thing that helps with the money is we are located own the southern end of I59 which is a main drug route to/from Mexico, N.O., Texas, all points South, heading North to Atlanta, B'ham, N'ville, and further North.  So our local PD's and SD's are able to seize enough drugs, weapons, vehicles, etc. to pay for new equipment, K9's, etc.  Therefore, I guess we are not feeling the money crunch quite as bad as some of you guys.  As a matter of fact one of the sororities at USM just purchased 9 K9 vests for a PD.

If it was not for these variables I guess we would be in much worse shape.  But the people of our communities literally will do anything to keep the K9s on the street. I usually have one with me all the time.  People have offered to give me money for my dogs feed, buy my meals.  When I tell them I am training they offer to buy my gas.  Our area is fantastic. When we are training with MEMA (FEMA) in SAR people want to get their pictures took, etc. (Of course for ethical reasons I never take the gifts but the thoughts are highly appreciated)

So, I hope the public sentiment always runs higher than that of the politicians because all it takes is finding a lost child, a lost man with Alzheimer's, a fugitive, drug bust, rapist, murderer, child molester, etc. And we have a Sheriff that will have every news agency around letting the public know. IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE K9's. (And he will have all of them in the camera shot). What a guy.

It is the politicians we need to downsize, not the police, not the jails. With the rocky times we are facing we need you more than ever.  Very scary to not have enough on the streets, for you and us.

Slamdunc,
I was wondering if you had witnessed any problems getting funding for K9s for training etc? I have heard of departments in the UK where budgeting has been problematic and it has been hard to get enough sleeves or other equipment for training etc? Or even to get adequate training for staff? I am full of admiration for the work of K9s and their officers, and don't know what we would do without them.

It is a way to scare people to vote for tax raise when they threaten that they will have to cut police and fire.  However they will not cut their bureaucratic jobs oh no!!!!! Not that!!!!!
That chops my hide.
 We sell dogs to GB police and the animal rights there insisted that the K9 must have heaters(!!!!) in their kennels. That cost so much money and in mean time the dogs in training had to be housed in private kennels . And that costs fortune. Than they could not afford K9s which they desperately needed. 
That chops my hide too. 
Prager Hans

animal rights there insisted that the K9 must have heaters(!!!!) in their kennels



Are you kidding? Apparently the animal rights people are idiots!! It is like people with show horses. They don't want them to get a coat so they keep them in warm stalls. They are blanketed if they go out and only let them out during day light. If a K9 is working and has a heater in the kennel and gets use to that and then has to go out in the cold it isn't going to be able to adjust as well as it being kept at a moderate temp.Their coat is an insulator and regulates them properly without a stupid heater!!!  Maybe if it was a DOBE!!! Then the Dobe I had I would make her deal with the cold...she ended up loving it and i couldn't get her in from playing outside in the snow.

Maybe it's easier to justify cutting more of the K9 programs if the costs are skyrocketing, Hans...

No, these dogs are very much needed, as are their human handlers...And the communities need to work with the police.  There is little reason for this "us and them" mentality I've seen..WE're all in this world together.

And bravo to the Sheriff who gives credit where it's due!  It's nice for the recognition to go where it belongs. 

Now if we could just get rid of the politicians...Those should be the first positions getting cut at times like this...The police know their jobs.  The politicians have forgotten theirs.

Crys

MAYBE A LITTLE OF TOPIC:

I just got back from evaluating a small PD in an adjoining state that wants a dual purpose K9.  The city has put $20,000 in the K9 budget for the remainder of the year. This will cover the dog, handler training, vehicle up-fit, dog upkeep, etc. This is their first K9 so they are starting from scratch.

I think I can help them make it work due to some grant money and seized drug assets that they can sell.  But I advised them to start a strong "Take A Bite Out of Crime" program to get the citizens to by into a K9.  The town is mostly black and the handler will be white.  They will need a lot of PR. 

I suggested bringing in some older very settled K9's and do some non-aggressive demos at schools, churches, maybe a day in the park.

They have a very serious drug problem and here in the South there are still some blacks who feel that K9's hate them.

If you have some ideas let me know.