Police K9 in Temple needs a little help

One Central Texas police department is raising money to make sure their four-legged crime fighters are safe on the job.

In September, Ingo became the newest K9 to join the Temple Police Department. His handler Officer Jeffrey Bragg said even with just three months on the job, Ingo has stayed pretty busy.

“Last week, we had a foot pursuit where the suspect threw an item, and we used him to track where the guy ran, and we found narcotics,” Bragg said.

In addition to tracking people, Ingo is also used for crowd control. According to Bragg, sometimes the sight of a police dog is enough to deter a would-be criminal.

“Having him as a partner tends to make people more apprehensive trying to break the law than having two officers there, because he bites,” Bragg said.

However when Ingo goes on his patrols, he is missing a key piece of equipment — a bullet proof vest.

“It’s not 100 percent to keep him safe, but it helps him stay safer than he would without one,” his handler said.

Bragg said Ingo’s vest will cost about $1,200. To try to purchase Ingo’s vest, the Temple Police Department organized a special fundraiser and demonstration Tuesday in front of the PETCO in Temple.

“Out here, we’re going to do some tracking out in the field, where he’ll pick up a scent and track where someone is running or hiding,” Bragg said. “He’ll also be doing bite work to where he’ll be apprehending a suspect, when he is released by me and given commands to bite.”

They hoped to have onlookers like Paula Smith see firsthand the role police dogs play.

“These are working dogs. And, it’s obvious that they are very good at what they do,” Smith said.

Also among the crowd was 14-year-old Laine Tarby. He said watching the demonstrations taught him an important lesson.

“To stay out of trouble, because Ingo will come after you,” Tarby said.

According to the manager at PETCO, they will be collecting donations of $5-$20 until Christmas Eve. The money will be split between the Temple Police Department and a local animal shelter.

If you are not in the area, you can donate money directly to the Temple Police Department. The phone number is (254) 298-5500.

By Chie Saito

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