THATCHER — During Monday’s meeting, the Thatcher Town Council met the newest member of the town’s police force.
Apollo, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois has been fully trained with his partner, officer JR Maner, and is out on street.
Apollo, the first K9 unit for Thatcher Police, is a patrol/narcotics dog.
“We didn’t want a K9 that had ever been trained in marijuana,” said Thatcher Police Chief Shaffen Woods. “He’s not alerting on marijuana, he’s alerting on some other drugs: methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, the more serious type of drugs.”
For patrol, Apollo can clear buildings and take down a suspect via bite on command from his handler.
Cost of the dog and the two months of training for the dog and his handler was about $21,000. A protective vest for Apollo, valued at about $300, has been donated to the town.
Woods said Apollo is available to assist other Gila Valley law enforcement agencies, and the dog is expected to have an eight- to 10-year career with Thatcher PD.
