Third time a charm? City purchases another canine unit
RED OAK — The Red Oak Police Department is looking to get back in the dog business, as Police Chief Drue Powers said at last week’s City Council meeting.
Powers said they have located a dog to be trained as a canine unit to the police department for $12,000. At the meeting, the Council approved the purchase of the dog, which will be trained in Atlantic.
This new dog will act as a replacement to a previous canine officer that was found dead the day training was to begin with Red Oak officer and handler Nathan Elwood. The deceased canine cost $5,500 and was a replacement for a previous dog that moved between multiple handlers and had to be returned because it did not adjust properly. Prior to that, the force went a few years without a canine. The canine program dates back to the 1990s, according to Powers, and had two dogs that were retired after an average of seven years.
The City received a $4,500 settlement following the previous dog’s unexpected death, which will go toward the purchase of the new canine. The remaining $7,500 will come out the department’s seized property fund that currently has a $10,000 balance.
Powers added the higher cost for the new dog is because of importing fees since the dog was bred in the Czech Republic.
The higher cost is also the result of the dual process training the dog will undergo. Unlike past canine units, the new dog will be trained not only as a drug dog but it will also provide officer protection and be capable of building sweeps to keep officers outside if a dangerous suspect is in a building.
Mayor Bill Billings expressed concern about a canine unit instilling fear in the community, referring to the dog as a “dark shadow” that would turn the force into a “Neo-Nazi task force with black gloves and bitedogs and sunglasses” in the eyes of the community.
“A police force should be publicly friendly and publicly conscious, here to protect and serve, not harass,” Billings said asking for a justification of need for the dog.
Power responded that the dog, unlike past canine officers that have been in Red Oak, will be trained as a social dog.
“We didn’t take that subject lightly either,” Powers said. “The trainer has assured us this dog has been completely socialized and can be taken around people without any problems, and that’s where we stand with out decision; we’re putting a lot of faith in the trainer.”
Assistant Police Chief Derrick Walter said the dog will be trained to respond to commands when it is needed for police business; the rest of the time it will be a friendly, social animal that can be taken around children and other community members.
Walter added that Elwood, who was scheduled to handle the previous dog, will be the handler for the new canine officer.
City Administrator Brad Wright expressed concern over relying on Elwood for the position because he allegedly has already applied for another job, and the dog that was on the force several years ago had to be returned because it was moved between multiple handlers and never adjusted.
Councilmember Scott Keith asked if it was possible to have a three- or five-year agreement with Elwood. Wright said he would consult the City Attorney on the matter.
While loosing Elwood was a concern to the police department, Walter said there is another officer interested in handling the dog should Elwood not be available. However, Walter added he thinks the dog, which comes with a three percent handling raise, will likely act as incentive for Elwood to stay.
“The thing is, this dog is available and this always seems to be a ‘get it when you can’ kind of thing,” Billings said. “We’re going to spend this money one way or another, now or in the future on a dog, but if the Council is uncomfortable, you don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with. We’ve been in this process too long, but I want it to be right.”
The Council did, however, unanimously approve the purchase of the dog, which is currently in Canada but will soon undergo a multiple week training program in Atlantic.
In other business, the Council moved forward with plans to institute a physical examination policy for volunteer and career firefighters in Red Oak.
Following a presentation by the Iowa Municipalities Workers’ Compensation Association (IMWCA), which indicated the City pays almost $38 per $100 of payroll in insurance for the fire department, the Council agreed physicals would be beneficial to the firefighters to prevent claims and possible health concerns.
Wright along with Fire Chief Jamie Blount will be producing a plan to present to the Council at a future meeting.
According to the IMWCA criteria, physicals are recommended at least every five years for all firefighters, and in doing so, pre-existing conditions could be detected to prevent heart attacks or other health concerns while fighting a fire.
“It’s not to penalize anybody, it’s to help you keep your people safe because the worst thing that can happen is somebody is out there fighting a fire and has a heart attack and either ends up with serious health problems or even death,” Curt Svalstad, IMWCA Director of Risk Services, said.
Councilmember Larry Barnett said, while unsure of the exact numbers, it could cost around $6,000 to complete all the physicals.
“I think there are ways to fund this, and I don’t want cost to be a determining factor in getting this done,” Barnett said. “Let’s face it, these guys get put under a lot of stress. You get all that gear on, and you’re packing 70-80 pounds and going into a burning building that isn’t exactly cool. That’s a lot of stress on the body.”