Retired K-9 officers visit South Bend students

A few K-9 officers within the South Bend Police Department were on a retirement tour on Thursday, and visited a group of South Bend school kids.

During their careers they’ve tracked shooting suspects, helped in the apprehension of robbery suspects, and sniffed out drugs.

They’re trained to detect a number of things associating certain scents with rewards, and are creatures of habit according to their partners.

“They are creatures of habit. The habit is turning on our radio, the lights, putting on our uniforms, things such as that. These dogs cue into that and it’s difficult for them to retire. We all have a family and kids and they will have a good life at home,” said Lt. Steve Noonan, K9 supervisor.

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Payne County Sheriffs Office hopes to add K9 unit

The Payne County Sheriff’s Office began taking donations this week to purchase a police dog, Sheriff R.B. Hauf said.

He hopes to add the K9 unit as soon as funds are available, he said.

“We don’t have a set date. It just depends on how the donations go,” he said.

Hauf said estimated costs of a K9 officer and equipment are from $11,000 to $20,000.

A K9 unit is not new to the department, which has had canine officers for years. The last dog was killed in a September 2009 accident. Hauf said Deputy Paul Fox, the handler, did not want to replace the dog at the time.

Without a K9 unit, the sheriff’s office has had to rely on the K9 units of the Stillwater and Cushing police departments. Fox said this adds extra work on the assisting agency and officer as well as other time constraints.

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