South Bay : Redondo Police to Add 2 Dogs to Force
Police in Redondo Beach will again be able to take a bite out of crime.
Community groups and schools have raised more than $16,000 to purchase two dogs for the Police Department’s depleted canine ranks. Only one crime-fighting dog is patrolling the beach city now, down from three last year.
A German shepherd named Andrej died of a spinal injury after a fall this year, and another dog was retired soon after.
No city funds could be found, so residents rallied to raise money for new police dogs, which can cost as much as $8,000 apiece, fully trained. Students at Beryl Heights Elementary School gathered $2,660.91 in pocket change for a replacement for Andrej, who accompanied Officer Paul Burch when he taught the school’s anti-drug DARE program.
The new dogs will go through an eight-week training program at a Bakersfield kennel before becoming members of the police force.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
