The Le Mars Eagles Club, FOE #1381, presented a check amounting to $250 to the Le Mars Police Department for a new K9 police dog. From left to right: Le Mars Police Chief, Kevin Vande Vegte, Officer Robert Rohmiller, Officer Mark Reed, Eagle members Clark Goodchild, Chris Langel, Ben Baugous, and Tom Shrader.
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department received a generous gift from the Le Mars Eagles Club on Tuesday afternoon. The civic organization presented a check in the amount of $250 to go towards the purchase and training of a new police dog. City councilman and president of the local Eagles Club Clark Goodchild says he hopes other organizations will match the Eagles donation.
Goodchild says the Eagles have identified nine other Le Mars civic organizations that he hopes will also contribute to the Le Mars Police K9 fund drive. He says those organizations include: Kiwanis, Lions, Rotary, Optimist, Le Mars Cyclists, American Legion, Knights of Columbus, Tactical Shooters Club, and the Sportsman’s Club.
Le Mars Police Senior Officer Mark Reed is the K9 handler for the local police department. He says his current dog is dual certified for both patrol work and narcotics detection. Reed says both his dog, and himself, are closing in on retirement in a few years, and they want to have another dog ready.
Reed says the Le Mars Police Department will train the dog to perform police duties, but he says it can be costly to acquire a new canine.
Sometimes a new police dog, even after being trained, may not perform to the standards expected of the dog. The Senior Officer explains the qualities and traits they seek in a young dog to become a police dog.
Reed says it is often times difficult to train a police dog to be both aggressive against criminals, and yet content, and docile with young children.
The Le Mars Police officer says it may take up to two years to sufficiently train a dog to perform police work duties. Reed tells of which dog breeds typically work best as a police K9.
If you have an interest in assisting the Le Mars Police Department in getting a new K9, you can send contributions to the Le Mars Police Department. Upon Officer Reed’s retirement, Officer Robert Rohmiller will assume the K9 handling duties for the Le Mars Police Department.
