Twin Lakes to seek funds for possible K9 unit

Minimal budget affect, police said

By Jason Arndt
Editor

With a rise in narcotic overdose deaths, both locally and nationally, the Twin Lakes Police Department looks to tackle the epidemic in its community with K9 unit.

In a presentation delivered at Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, police officer Joe Patla said his department plans to fund the program entirely through donations and business partnerships.

Patla reports the cost of a canine is about $60,000, including a $40,000 squad equipped with a cage, heat detection, automatic door opener for the dog and a camera.

The benefits, however, outweigh the costs related to the initial startup of the program.

“The presence of a dog in our community is going to kind of give more sense of security,” Patla said.

Additionally, Patla noted recent trends, including 19 fatal narcotic overdoses in the Village of Twin Lakes since 2011. Of the 19, 17 were from opiate use.

The overdoses, he said, have become a primary concern within the police department.

“It’s unbelievable numbers,” he said.

With a K9 unit, a dog can reduce the burden of police officers, including detection of odors from illegal drugs, including heroin, cocaine, meth, marijuana and opioid pills.

“Heroin is the biggest issue we have in Twin Lakes,” Patla said.

While the dog’s primary mission to cut crime is through the use of its nose, Patla outlined other benefits to community, some involving area schools.

Benefits at schools include locker searches for illegal drugs and related paraphernalia.

The dog can also help search for lost children or missing elderly residents, Patla said.

“More importantly, we have two grade schools within the village,” he said. “We have a large elderly population.”

Additionally, in the case of domestic violence incidents, a dog can offer assurance to children in need.

“It acts like a therapy dog,” Patla said.

Patla states other municipalities have seen benefits from having a dog on its police force, like the Village of McFarland in Dane County.

Last year, the Village of McFarland deployed its K9 unit 93 times, which accounted for 52 drug-related searches.

Of the 52 searches, officers uncovered 15.5 grams of heroin, or about 2,000 doses. The seizures are indicative of crime reduction.

“Statistically, in communities of large or small size can see about a 48 to 50 percent decrease in crime,” Patla said.

Patla, who has asked dealerships about a vehicle donation, also found a local veterinarian willing to offer full and complete care of the dog through the program.

Typically, Patla said a police dog stays in service for about eight years, and when dog retires, the village receives up to $25,000 from an insurance provider to find a replacement.

According to state law, the village is not responsible for injury caused by a canine unit performing its duty.


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