THE ISSUE: In 2014, the Crestview Police Department suspended its K-9 program after medically retiring their K-9s, Rex and Edo. Police, faced with limited funds, had to borrow a K-9 unit from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office or the state Department of Corrections, as needed.
BACKGROUND: The CPD began raising money last summer to pay for two K-9s and their training with a CPD officer. People across the southern U.S. donated a total of $30,275.81 by Sept. 24. The top two donors earned the honor of naming the two new German shepherds. Kody is named in honor of a German shepherd owned by the late Diane Gilbert of Alabama. Sonic was named for Sonic's restaurant chain in Crestview.
WHAT'S NEXT: CPD's K-9 units will now provide the following services:
•Controlled substances detection during traffic stops and searches of buildings and vehicles
•Search-and-rescue, including locating lost children and vulnerable adults, dead bodies and tracking fleeing suspects
•Scent discrimination to match a suspect with a weapon or object used in a crime.
•Instructional presentations to schools and community organizations, including drug prevention education.
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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Follow-up: An introduction to Crestview's K-9s