Altoona Police to host K9 fundraiser

Thursday, January 19, 2017
Abigail Hantke | WEAU

ALTOONA, Wis. (WEAU)- The Altoona Police Department is hoping to get the community involved to bring another officer on their team.

The department will be hosting their first fundraiser to bring back their K9 Program next week at Draganetti's in Altoona, Thursday, January 26h from 4-10 p.m.

"We had a K9 Program previously and it obviously went to the wayside when the officer retired form our agency," Altoona Police Chief Jesse James said. "There's been a reignited passion by our patrol staff and they felt the need to bring a dog back to the Altoona Police Department."
James also said he knew they would not be able to get personnel, so by obtaining a K9, it would be another tool they could use out on the streets.

"Really the dog will be a police officer," he said. "We are gaining a member of the agency just not in human form."

James also mentioned there's a lot more benefit to making the k9 program a community project than just putting it in the operating budget

The department is looking to raise in total more $40 thousand for the program.

"The dog, when we had it before, it was a very valuable asset to the community," said Altoona Police Sergeant Scott Kelley. Kelley will be in charge of supervision over the K9 program. "It was very positive. I'm very excited to see it come back; it benefits the community, not just Altoona, but the whole area as well."

James says with this round of the program, they will be assigning the K9 officer to a daytime shift, so they can incorporate more community interaction.

"Our previous K9 officer worked the night shift from 9 pm to 7 a.m.," James said. "I'd like them to work a daytime shift, we'll be able to provide community functions, training, presentations for our schools, taking our dogs for our healthcare facilities; so our community and tax paying dollars can be seen."

Right now the department is aiming to send an officer to New Mexico for training and dog pairing in spring of 2018.

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