Letters to the Editor
Team work
The Lake County Sheriff's office K-9 Program is in need of funding. The current budget has no line item for this program.
In the last year, the Lake County Sheriff's office lost two K-9 teams. One team was retired when the handler was pulled away for a commitment to the military. The other dog was retired for medical reasons.
Currently the Lake County Sheriff's office has only one K-9 unit—a search and rescue/cadaver search dog team. That dog is about 7 years old and is getting close to retirement age for working dogs.
There is a dog available for training, which will cost $6,000. That covers the cost of training the K-9, training for the handler, certification of the team, and lodging during the training. That would also cover continuing training and annual certification of the K-9 team.
The Sheriff's office also has the option to purchase an additional K-9 and training for the handler at a cost of $9,000. That would cover the K-9, training, certification, and a medical guarantee for the health of the K-9. That would also cover the continued training and annual certifications for the K-9 team.
That would provide two K-9 teams total for the county. The teams would be trained to track and find lost persons or persons who have fled from a crime scene. They would be trained in the area of building searches for persons or evidence. There would also be training in the detection of illegal drugs.
Having two K-9 teams would provide Lake County to with 24-hour access to the K-9 team instead of having one K-9 team on call constantly. The K-9 teams work regular rotating shifts the same as other deputies. The K-9 team responds to all calls for service in their assigned areas. The K-9 is an added tool for the deputy and for the county.
In the past the Lake County Sheriff's office K-9 teams have been used in the search for lost or missing persons as well for law enforcement. They have been used in the fight against drugs in the county. The K-9 teams provide an added support to an office stretched very thin. The teams have also been used by other law enforcement agencies in the county.
The use of the dog teams can save time and money for agencies by being able to sniff out drugs. The teams can aid in earlier detection for lost or missing persons. They provide extra security for officers searching for suspects in open or wooded areas or in buildings. The teams are trained to work with search and rescue units in the county to assist in finding lost children or others who have wandered away from campsites or gotten lost in the woods.
Traditionally, the handlers working the dogs have covered most of the cost for the K-9 program out of their own pockets. There have been some donations of equipment from local organizations and individuals.
The Lake County Sheriff's office would use a trainer located in Bozeman. That will provide easy access for training and certification of the K-9 teams. The trainer has a law enforcement background and experience in a law enforcement K-9 team.
Donations can be made to the Lake County Sheriff's Office K-9 Program; 106 4th Ave. E.; Polson, MT 59860. All donations are tax deductible.
Tony Buff
Lake Co. Sheriff's deputy