Police Canine/K-9 Program

Posted by Richard L. Roberts 
 

Sandy Nichols introduced the speakers:

Officer Shane Day has been a police officer with the City of Arroyo Grande for nine years where he has been an instructor for field duty, impact weapons and arrest and control.  He was recently given the opportunity to work as a K-9 Handler.  His partner is a 20 month old German Shepherd named Gregor Latiska Skala from Slovakia. 

 

            Arroyo Grande Chief of Police Steven Annibali has worked in law enforcement for over 32 years; several police departments: Los Angeles, San Diego; he was the Chief of Police for Breckenridge, CO, and Ephrata, PA, and is now the Chief for the City of Arroyo Grande.  He holds a BS in Public Administration and is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Police Staff & Command and the University of Colorado Western Police Institute School of Law Enforcement Management & Leadership. 

            Gregor was born in Slovakia from a breed line known for good K-9 dogs and received his early training there.  He picked Officer Day to become his handler.  He loves to play and when he does his job right, he is rewarded with play time.  The AG police department provides K-9 services county wide as needed but specifically to the City of Arroyo Grande and the SouthCounty area.  New dogs, like Gregor, cost $8,500 and are paid for through community donations.  They are trained and used to keep our schools safe by sniffing out drugs, track down fleeing criminals and to find lost children.  Training in these areas, equipment and kennel costs exceeds $7,000 per dog also paid by community donations.

            Everyone is invited to attend Pet Dog day, May 15th, at the Farm Supply location where the AG K-9 dogs will perform.  The dogs have their own medical plan during their expected term of service, 6-8 years.  After they retire, they are offered to their handlers for $1.  Handlers are expected to be on call 24-7, they work evening/night shifts and have considerable responsibility to keep, maintain and have their dogs as a family member.  The dog and handler have to get to know and trust each other.  Handler learns the language of the country where the dog was born and received their original training.  Officer Day said that, at first, Gregor seemed disinterested on patrol.  Day set up a fake fight with another officer and since then, Gregor has been consistently alert on patrol except when off duty.  German Shepherds do not keep their aggressive behavior as some other K-9's do.  They consider their work as play and become good pets when they retire.  Donations are encouraged and are tax deductible: "SLOLEAF/AGPD K-9 Fund" or www.sloleaf.org for more information or call the AG Police Department and ask for Officer Shane Day.