BY MIKE CETERA
Some posters over at a new blog discussing Aurora police union issues raise an interesting question about the department's K-9 unit: What happened to it?
The department has not replaced two dogs that died over the last year or so. See their stories here and here. And the city's 2008 budget doesn't appear to fund the unit.
Budget documents show the department budgeted $6,500 for the unit in 2007 and spent $900 (Gunny, the last dog, died in April). No money has been allocated for next year. The poster asks why?
My question is, how can Aurora not have a K9 program, when towns like Naperville, Oswego, Yorkville, and County entities have multiply K9's!? Again, I am no genius, but K9's have a great effect in the detection of drugs, and criminals. Or am I wrong?
After the 2006 death of another police dog, Jake, Aurora Police Chief Bill Powell publicly lauded the K-9 program, saying "K-9s play a critical role in so many aspects of police work, and Jake was one of the best. His efforts really
made the community safer, and I'm sure, ended up saving more than one life."
Aside from the PR boost, K-9 units can give, they are widely regarded as effective law enforcement tools (see research on the pros and cons of K-9 units here). Shouldn't we make sure the department has all the tools in its toolbox?
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