PIMA — Eight months after announcing the retirement of K9 officer Rosie, Pima Police are looking to bring a new dog on the force with a slightly different skill set.
Police Chief Diane Cauthen said the Gila Valley has a strong need for a tracking dog.
“It’s getting busier and we’re getting kids that are going missing,” Cauthen said. “The last one was a couple of months ago and it tied up . . . eight officers from each agency that went out there to find these kids.”
A trained search dog could reduce the number of officers needed to search, allowing officers to maintain patrol of other areas of the Valley, she said, adding that a search dog can also be used to find suspects who run from the police.
The Town Council authorized Cauthen to spend $25,265 over two installments for a Hanoverian hound dog that will be trained in tracking and narcotics detection. The dog should be fully trained and ready to join the department by spring 2023.
Town Manager Vernon Batty said the town can use funds that come from marijuana sales, as well as funds from the recent opioid lawsuit settlement. Cauthen added that she’s applied for a grant that, if approved, could be used to reimburse the town for the purchase as well as other equipment needed for the K9 unit.
In April, Thatcher Police welcomed K9 officer Apollo, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois trained in narcotics detection and to take down suspects. And in 2019 Graham County Sheriff’s Office acquired K9 officer Kukui, a Dutch shepherd training in narcotics detection and scent tracking.
