CRESTVIEW — The City Council has unanimously accepted donations of unsolicited equipment and resources, valued more than $19,000, offered by citizens to the Crestview Police Department.
Police Chief Tony Taylor said several residents have offered resources to his department in recent weeks. In addition to fitness equipment, a new K-9 officer joined the force upon the council’s approval of the Monday evening consent agenda.
“The agency was contacted by Brian Bethea, who expressed his desire to donate an 8-month-old Dutch shepherd,” Taylor stated in a briefing memo.
“The canine, named Hero, has been medically evaluated and found to be in good health and physically fit for the challenges inherent in canine law enforcement.”
Taylor said Hero was evaluated by K-9 training experts at the Alabama Canine Law Enforcement Officers Training center, where Crestview police dogs and handlers are trained, and was found “suited for law enforcement canine work.”
Bethea’s mother, Iris Bethea, a Destin business owner, offered to cover the $4,000 cost of Hero’s training, Taylor stated in his brief.
Taylor said the combined gift of Hero and his training expenses are valued at $11,000. The police department does not yet have an officer partner assigned to Hero, Taylor said.
The initial cost to feed and equip Hero are estimated at $1,610, Taylor said. His department already has a vehicle retrofitted for K-9 use, he said.
In other gifts, Rex Rousseau donated a $5,500 Star Trac Flex Fitness ab machine for police officer fitness training, Taylor said.
Additionally, Tom and Carol McGrath and Kathy Reinhart donated to the agency exercise equipment, including a Pro-Form XP 58s Crosstrainer treadmill, a weight bench and weights estimated to be worth $2,655.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Police Dept. receives $19K in donations