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News Brief
2/3/2010 9:49:29 AM
Liberty Lake Police sniff out canine program
Liberty Lake Police are tracking down the possibility of a canine drug-detection program for the city.
Police Chief Brian Asmus said the proposed program, which needs City Council approval, makes sense for the department with its focus on commercial vehicle enforcement, the city's proximity to Interstate 90, the number of people outside the area coming through the community and the number of drug arrests made by local officers.
The program also would be an asset in community outreach, he added.
The police department's budget this year doesn't include funds for the program, Asmus said. The department still is researching the complete cost, but training for the dog and a handler is estimated at $1,500, he said. The dog, typically a rescue animal, is free.
Local community members and businesses have responded positively to the possibility of a drug-detection canine program, Asmus said, and some people have already pledged to donate services or funds for it.
Asmus said he is presenting the proposal later this month to the City Council's public safety committee and to the full Council next month. Advertisement
If approved, the animal and handler could begin training this coming fall, Asmus said.
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