Approve Acquistion of Police K9 and Accept K9s 4COPS GrantMasterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
bierd
All-America City
1
2007
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Approve Acquisition of Police K9 and Accept Grant from K9s 4COPS
DATE: December 28, 2011
The Dubuque Police Department is scheduled to retire its current K9, Doerak, in the
spring of 2012 due to age, along with physical and health issues. Arrangements have
been made for Officer Wul!weber to select a new K9 partner and attend a six week
certification school at Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Indiana. This is a budgeted item
having a total cost of approximately $17,372.00.
On December 20, 2011, the Dubuque Police Department was contacted by a
representative (Dan Parker) of Vohne Liche Kennels. The kennels were provided
funding by K9s 4Cops to cover the expenses related to the purchase of a K9 and the
cost of training a handler, along with lodging at the kennels. The funding was enough to
cover the cost for three handlers and their K9 partners. Vohne Liche Kennels then
extended an offer to provide the Dubuque Iowa Police Department, the Washoe County,
(Nevada) Sheriff's Department and the Harriman County, (Tennessee) Sheriff's
Department with a trained /certified dual purpose K9, six week handler certification and
barracks lodging for the handler, free of charge for the respective departments.
K9s 4COPS is a charitable (501 c 3) non - profit organization established in 2010. It is
based in Harris County (Houston) Texas.
Chief of Police Mark Da!sing recommends the City accept this unique opportunity to
replace the department's current K9 at a significant savings of approximately $14,000.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Mark Da!sing, Chief of Police
2
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO
FROM
DATE
SUBJECT
Michael C Van Milligen, City Manager
Mark M Dalsing, Chief of Police
December 27, 2011
K9 Acquisition
Dubuque
had
NI- America City
'I 1 1 I'
2007
INTRODUCTION
This memo will address the potential acquisition of a replacement K9 through a non - profit organization
BACKGROUND
Because of his age and other health considerations, the Dubuque Police Department's current K9, Doerak, is scheduled to
be replaced in the spring of 2012 The purchase of the KG and related training is a budgeted item and has a cost of
approximately $17,372 00 We were recently contacted by Von Liche Kennels, our K9 and training provider, about the
opportunity to obtain a K9 and the related training at a minimal cost K9's 4 Cops (www K9s4COPS ora) is a 501(c)(3) non-
profit organization that provides funding for law enforcement departments to provide KG services in their communities This
organization is based in Texas and has primarily funded K9's in Texas After viewing the Von Liche operations, the
organization decided that it wants to fund additional K9's in other parts of the country The organization advised Von Liche
Kennels that it would provide the funding for three KG's and the related training and Von Liche selected Dubuque as one of
the departments to receive the opportunity The other two PG's will be going to Tennessee and Nevada
DISCUSSION
As Doerak was scheduled to be replaced in 2012, this is a timely
the Dubuque Police Department has used their kennels and has
K9 program 10 years ago The Dubuque Police Department KG's
K9's in competitions each year Because of the relationship with
strong representation of the quality KG's Von Liche produces, the
Cops generous offer
opportunity Von Liche is a highly recognized KG trainer and
a strong, positive relationship with them since we started our
are well trained and successfully compete against other
Von Liche Kennels and the Dubuque Police Department's
department has been chosen as a recipient of the K9's 4
RECOMMENDATION
I am recommending that the Dubuque Police Department accept the K9 and training being offered to us from Von Liche
Kennels via KG's 4 Cops
PROJECT COST - BUDGET IMPACT
Approximately $3,000 of the budgeted $17,372 will still be needed for travel, lodging and per diem expenses not covered by
the funding opportunity
THE CITY OF
DUB TE MEMORANDUM
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
To: Chief Dalsing
From: Captain James Lembke
Date: 12/20/11
RE: K9 Acquisition
Background
The Dubuque Police Department is scheduled to retire its current K9, Doerak, in the
spring of 2012 due to age, along with physical and health issues. Arrangements have
been made for Officer Wullweber to select a new K9 partner and attend a six week
certification school at Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Indiana. This is a budgeted item
having a total cost of approximately $ 17,372.00.
On 12/20/11, the Dubuque Police Department was contacted by a representative (Dan
Parker) of Vohne Liche Kennels. The kennels were provided funding by K9s 4Cops to
cover the expenses related to the purchase of a K9 and the cost of training a handler,
along with lodging at the kennels. The funding was enough to cover the cost for three
handlers and their K9 partners. Vohne Liche Kennels then extended an offer to provide
the Dubuque Iowa Police Department, the Washoe County, (Nevada) Sheriff's
Department and the Harriman County, (Tennessee) Sherriff's Department with a trained
/ certified dual purpose K9, six week handler certification and barracks lodging for the
handler, free of charge for the respective departments.
K9s4COPS is a charitable (501 c 3) non - profit organization established in 2010. It is
based in Harris County (Houston) Texas. Information on the organization can be
accessed via the internet at K9s4COPS.org.
This offer is valid for the certification class beginning on 01/30/12. The K9 pick up dates
are 01/19/12 and 01/20/12. Vohne Liche Kennels will allow Officer Wullweber to travel
to their kennels one week prior to the pickup dates and select a K9.
Summary
This is a unique opportunity to replace the departments current K9 at a significant
savings of approximately $12,500. It would be anticipated that the department would
have to cover the estimated travel expense of $1300.00 long with the estimated per
diem of $1518.00. Vohne Liche Kennels has indicated that they will provide a written
document to the Dubuque Police Department outlining the specifics of the proposal.
This is time sensitive, due to start time of the class. The opportunity to accept this
proposal is not extended beyond the class beginning on 01/30/12. If the proposal is not
accepted it will be offered to another department. The Dubuque Police Department has
a long standing, positive relationship with Vohne Liche Kennels dating back to 2001.
Respectfully submitted,
Captain James Lembke
Dubuque Police Department K9 Unit Supervisor