The Kimball Police Department’s K9 program is restarting after the City Council last month approved of the plan and funding for a new dog.
In a social media post, Police Chief Jose Ruiz says the new K9, a six-month old Labrador retriever, is headed to begin her training to detect narcotics, and is expected to be ready to go on patrol in September.
Ruiz told KNEB News the department has already received a pair of lateral applications to become the city’s new K9 handler. “It takes a special person to be a K9 handler. There’s got to be that relationship between the officer and the dog,” said Ruiz. “I can’t answer as to why there hasn’t been one (in the years) prior to me coming and taking over as Police Chief, but as Police Chief, I think it’s a very important tool to have.”
He says if the department is unable to find the right person, he can step in as handler, as he has had K9 experience in the past.
Ruiz says given the city sits at the intersection of I-80 and Highway 71, both of which are major routes for drug trafficking, it just made sense to resume the program.
