DATE: December 6, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Roy Nakamura, Chief of Police
By: Amber Abeyta, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: DONATION OF A SCENT DISCRIMINATE TRACKING DOG AND $2,500
FROM THE ARCADIA POLICE FOUNDATION FOR THE ARCADIA POLICE DEPARTMENT’S POLICE SERVICE DOG (K-9) PROGRAM
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: Accept
SUMMARY
The Arcadia Police Foundation donated a scent discriminate tracking dog and $2,500 for related expenses for the Arcadia Police Department’s Police Service Dog (K-9) Program. It is recommended that the City Council accept these donations.
DISCUSSION
In 2015, the Arcadia Police Foundation was established for the purpose of supporting the Arcadia Police Department (“APD”) by raising funds to support the programs, projects, and activities of the Department that are not funded through the City’s General Fund budget.
These projects and activities will assist APD in continuing to serve the residents of Arcadia at its highest level and support the Department in its mission to improve public safety, decrease crime, and make Arcadia a safe place to live, work, and visit.
The Arcadia Police Service Dog (“K-9”) Unit is one of the programs supported by the Foundation. With the generous support of the Foundation, the K-9 Unit has maintained two fully trained police service dogs (Kruz and Kota). K-9 Kruz is trained in narcotics detection and K-9 Kota is trained in suspect apprehension and explosive detection. Upon the conclusion of K-9 Kota’s police service in August 2022, the Department researched options to replace Kota, and determined that a scent discriminate tracking dog would best meet the needs of the Department and the community.
Police Service (K-9) Dog Program Donation
December 6, 2022
The Foundation typically provides a monetary donation to the Department to purchase a new K-9. However, when a scent discriminate tracking dog became readily available from a reputable breeding company, Georgia K9, the Foundation purchased the dog directly from the company. The Foundation has donated the new scent
discriminate tracking dog, K-9 Kopper (pictured left) to the Department including a check in the amount of $2,500 to cover related expenses. Similar to APD’s other K-9s, the Foundation will continue to cover the cost of the service dog’s food, supplies and equipment, specialized training and certifications, boarding, veterinary and dental
expenses. All costs pertaining to servicing the K-9 Unit are funded by the Foundation, which is supported solely by
donations. The City pays for the cost of the officer’s time in responding to calls for service.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
Acceptance of the Foundation’s donation of a scent discriminate tracking dog and $2,500 donation will provide for the addition of the new K-9. The City’s cost for overtime, personnel costs, and training have been budgeted in the FY 2022-23 Operating Budget, under the K-9 Program account.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determines that this project is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and accept the donations of a scent discriminate tracking dog and $2,500 from the Arcadia Police Foundation for the Arcadia Police Department’s Police Service Dog (K-9) Program.
Kopper