RPD to purchase new dog for K-9 unit

After several months of hard work and fundraising, the Russellville Police Department will soon have a new drug dog to pick up where their faithful drug dog, Player, left off.

Thanks to an appropriation of $2,000 from the city of Russellville Monday evening, K-9 Lt. Jeff Michael was able to reach the $8,000 goal he needed for the department to purchase a fully trained drug dog.

“I was glad to find out the council had voted to appropriate the funds that would help give us the amount we needed,” Michael said. “I really appreciate the city coming through for us.”

Michael, who has worked in the RPD’s K-9 unit since 2001, has been raising funds for the past three months so the department could purchase a new drug dog after their long-time drug dog, Player, passed away on March 3.

Michael has seen over the years how important Player was in the department’s drug investigations and in other aspects of law enforcement and he didn’t want that spot to go unfilled because of the lack of funding.

“I appreciate everyone who saw the need for a drug dog in our city and who made a donation to make that happen,” he said. “Everyone who came to the benefit concert this weekend, everyone who donated or helped me in anyway – there just aren’t enough words to express how grateful I am to these people.”

Michael said he contacted the canine trainer at the Alabama K-9 Law Enforcement Training Center in Tuscaloosa as soon as he got word Monday evening that he had enough money.

“I’ve been in contact with this trainer ever since I first started the fundraising process,” he said. “I called him Monday night and let him know we would have $8,000 and he said he could let me have the dog for that amount.

“The dog we’re looking at is a chocolate lab and he’s involved in training right now. It takes a certain kind of dog to be able to meet all the qualifications of becoming an actual drug dog and sometimes the dog won’t make it all the way through his training. But if he completes his training and makes it through the selection process, we’ll officially purchase him and I’ll go down to the training center for four weeks to train with him.”

Michael said even if this particular dog doesn’t work out, it’s still good to know the funding is there to ensure a new drug dog will be secured in the future.

“The K-9 unit is so beneficial to our department,” Michael said. “It’s good to know we’ll be able to continue the work that Player started and honor that legacy he left for us.”