City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: MAY 3, 2022 FROM: POLICE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL SUBJECT: DECLARE POLICE SERVICE DOG “FINN” AS RETIRED AND SURPLUS PROPERTY, APPROVE DONATION OF “FINN” TO HANDLER, AND ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,500 FROM AKC REUNITE ADOPT A K-9 COP MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Declare Police Service Dog Finn as retired and surplus property to the needs of the Police Department, approve the donation of Finn to his current handler, and accept grant funds in the amount of $7,500 from AKC Reunite Adopt a K-9 Cop Matching Grant Program to aid in the purchase a new PSD and provide required handlers training and equipment.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Declare Police Service Dog Finn as retired and surplus property to the needs of the Police Department; Approve the donation of Police Service Dog Finn to his current handler, Officer Larkin, at no cost to the City; Approve the acceptance of grant funding in the amount of $7,500 from AKC Reunite Adopt a K-9 Cop Matching Grant Program; and With five affirmative votes, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenues and appropriate expenditures in the amount of $7,500 into the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Police-Field Operations, AKC Reunite K-9 Grant Program.
BACKGROUND:
The mission of the Riverside Police Department (RPD) K-9 Unit is to support all divisions within the Department. Specifically, Police Service Dog (PSD) Finn provides support to the Field Operations Division, Patrol, Special Operations Division, SWAT/Metro, and Post-Release Accountability & Compliance Team (PACT). Finn is used to search for and apprehend suspects and locate evidence. Deploying a PSD reduces manpower and time required to search scenes to locate suspects and evidence. The Police K-9 also makes it safer for officers to gain voluntary compliance and apprehend suspects.
Since the inception of the Police Department Canine Program, the handler responsible for the canine at the time of its retirement has been given the opportunity to take over the sole responsibility, ownership, and care of the retired dog, if they so desire.
DISCUSSION:
PSD Finn has served the City of Riverside with distinction searching countless scenes and locating suspects and evidence. Finn is eleven years old and has developed advanced arthritis in his shoulders and hips. The Police Department is requesting that PSD Finn be declared as retired and surplus property to the needs of the Police Department.
Finn’s partner for the past six and a half years, Officer Nick Larkin, wishes to assume ownership of the animal. Officer Nick Larkin will assume all financial responsibility as to the care, maintenance, food costs and veterinary expenses for the retired PSD. The City of Riverside does not have any financial obligation or responsibility associated with this donation.
AKC Reunite, through its Canine Support and Relief Fund, works with AKC Clubs to donate K-9 police dogs to police departments around the United States. The donations from AKC Reunite and AKC Clubs allow the police department’s need for a new K-9 to become a reality. AKC Reunite will match the funds raised by AKC Clubs three to one, not exceeding $7,500. Riverside Police Department will use Grant funds in addition to other donations received from the Canine Trust to purchase a replacement for PSD Finn and obtain the required handler’s training and equipment.
After the retirement of Finn, the Department will move forward with the purchase of a new Police Service Dog and training for the new canine and officer in the near term and in accordance with Purchasing Resolution 23812.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority No. 2 Community Well-Being and Goal No. 2.4 – Support programs and innovations that enhance community safety, encourage neighborhood engagement, and build public trust.
This item aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – Purchasing a Police Service Dog serves the public interest, benefits the City’s diverse populations, and results in greater public good. The Police Department deploys Police Service Dogs to reduce manpower and time required to search crime scenes. This invaluable tool increases the safety of police personnel and the community.
Equity – The RPD provides public safety services to all residents in the City of Riverside. Having the ability to deploy Police Service Dogs helps in the achievement of this goal by providing the RPD with a tool that improves efficiencies and enhances community safety.
Fiscal Responsibility – The RPD is utilizing donated funds for the acquisition of the replacement Police Service Dog, required handlers training and equipment. Police Service Dogs reduce manpower and time required to search scenes to locate concealed evidence or suspects.
Innovation – In order to meet the community’s changing needs and prepare for the future, RPD assigns their canine handlers and canines with monthly training to train and develop methods to deploy and serve the community.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The purpose of regularly replacing Police Service Dogs is to ensure the Department has the ability to continue to provide public safety services in the present and future, while adapting, and growing with the needs of the community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is $7,500. Upon Council approval and grant award, an increase in revenues and appropriations of expenditures in the amount of $7,500 will be recorded in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Police-Field Operations, AKC Reunite K-9 Grant Program, Revenue Account No. 9923500-339000 and expenditure account number 9923500-426800.
Prepared by: Larry Gonzalez, Chief of Police
Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer Approved by: Lea Deesing, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
AKC Reunite Adopt a K-9 Cop Matching Grant Program – Supplemental Appropriation ● Page 3