GARDEN GROVE : City Seeks Donations to Buy Police Dog

Council members in this financially strapped city have authorized the solicitation of funds in the community to buy a dog for the police canine unit.

Councilman Robert F. Dinsen, who recently contributed $100 to initiate the fund-raising effort, said that he would like city employees to start soliciting businesses and residents soon.

The Police Department currently has two dogs. But Dinsen believes that the understaffed department should have a third dog ready to go when one of the others retires or when there’s a decision to expand the unit.

“We used to have four dogs, and now we have two, and I don’t see why there would be any objection to a third dog,” Dinsen said.

Police Chief Stanley L. Knee said the department will likely ask for a third dog to be used exclusively to sniff out drugs. One of the current dogs, Mac, a German shepherd, has drug-sniffing capabilities, Knee said. But he is also used for other duties.

Blue Vom, a Belgian sheep dog, is the second member of the canine crime-fighting unit.

Police dogs most often are purchased in Germany and cost about $5,000, Knee said.

He said he agrees with studies showing that canines reduce the use of deadly force by officers who are confronted by armed suspects. Instead of firing their weapons, the officers can send dogs after suspects, Knee said.

Garden Grove has had four police dogs over the years, and all have been provided by businesses or civic organizations.