The Town of Middlebury Public Safety & Health Committee will discuss the level of community support and need for a canine response (K9) unit at its meeting on Monday August 8, beginning at 4 pm in Middlebury Police Department Conference Room. The meeting is open to the public for their input.
Response to a 2016 Town Meeting Day poll in March showed that people are still mulling their support and benefit from more information and discussion to be provided at this meeting. Roughly a third (31%) said they would support the addition to the town budget in future of about $50,000 for a canine response unit program while roughly another third (28%) said they wouldn't, another third said they didn't know (30%) and a few indicated no response (10%).
Middlebury Police Chief Tom Hanley will present background on the benefits and challenges of a canine response (K9) unit. This will include what is involved in acquiring and maintaining one.
Patrolling in a well marked K9 vehicle clearly states the intent of the police department to deter crime and help the community. Tracking is a prime function of the police work dog. Tracking lost children or adults or suspects is a function that under the majority of conditions, the human cannot duplicate. Locating suspects or lost children or adults can be very time consuming for a department and their budget quickly depleted in the overtime expenditures. Under the majority of circumstances, the police work dog can be utilized more effectively than 10 or more officers because the K9's sense of smell is many times greater than the human. They can travel and clear an area much quicker. As humans, we rely on what we see or hear when searching for an intruder. Without keys or the owner being present, we cannot search areas or rooms which have locked doors. We cannot see through doors and walls. When a properly trained police work dog is utilized to search a building for a person or drugs, the K9 uses its keen sense of smell first, then its sense of hearing and lastly their eyes. They do not need to open doors to determine if someone is hidden behind it or drugs are present. They simply smell the door seams. They do not need flashlights to look into dark areas to locate suspects or missing people, thereby giving away their place of concealment, cover and more importantly their safety. The mere presence of the properly trained police work dog reduces assaults on police officers tremendously.
Some of the cost factors to consider are: 1) Can the dog be donated or will it have to be purchased? If purchased is it a "green" dog or is it pre-trained? There is usually a large difference between these costs. 2) Will the dog live in doors or outside? If outside, the cost of the kennel fencing, cement pad, dog house, and more need to be considered. Regardless of where the dog lives, it will need to be fed and taken to the vet regularly to maintain wellness. These costs need to be considered. 3) Training is paramount. Quality training cannot be shortcut and needs to be funded regularly. 4) Training equipment such as aggression sleeves, blank ammo, leashes, tracking harness, collars, muzzle, etc. must be considered in the initial start up costs. 5) The patrol vehicle needs to be retrofitted for a police work dog. it will last three to five times longer than normal.
Questions and comments may be sent to Public Safety and Health Committee Chair Laura Asermily (lasermily@yahoo.com).
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