NEWPORT BEACH : 2 Dogs Bought for Police Canine Unit

The Police Department has purchased two police dogs for more than $15,000 to replace Dingo, a veteran dog who died in January, and Hondo, a second police dog that is near retirement age.

The newly purchased dogs were imported from Europe three weeks ago and sent to a monthlong training session in Riverside, said Newport Beach Lt. Paul Henisey.

The money for the new German shepherd dogs came from public donations following Dingo’s death from complications after surgery. And the police department is preparing to retire Hondo in coming months, leaving it with one dog.

The City Council approved the expenditure Monday night when it approved its consent calendar, a list of routine items voted on as a group.

“One of the things we have found is that the dogs are very effective tools,” said Newport Beach Lt. Paul Henisey. “So because of that, and . . . the amount of community support for the canine program,” they decided to bring the canine units back up to three.

Police officials say the newly acquired dogs being trained in commands, operations and search techniques will begin work in April.

One of the new police dogs is from Germany, the other from Czechoslovakia. And, for example, the dog born and raised in Germany learned commands from German handlers. Once it reaches Newport Beach, the canine officers will learn German to communicate with it.

Some of the public donations left over have been put into a special account to be used to pay for training the dogs in narcotics sniffing.