Committee helping city procure next K9 officer

A newly formed community committee is working to ensure the Monroe Police K9 program is supported for the long term and when the agency is ready to take on its next animal partner.

An initial campaign to raise $12,000 will take place this year, and planning has begun for a community event that could generate $5,000 annually.

The efforts are in memory of Monroe’s beloved K9 Ebby Calvin “Nuke” LaLoosh, also referred to by his handler Officer Jason Southard as “the community’s dog,” who passed away this winter.

“Nuke’s passing brought to light an unanticipated need within the MPD budget for the funding of another Tracking K9 officer,” committee head Ric Carlson wrote in a letter announcing the plan.

Committee member Chuck Whitfield said the Rotary Club of Monroe could have raised the money on its own, but wanted to include the community, too support the department and allow others to join in the important work.

“I know there needs to be a gathering place for that energy and direct it toward giving,” said Sam’s Cats and Dogs Naturally owner and committee member Sam Wirsching.

He and other committee members were discussing how best to plan out this year’s kickoff and subsequent annual fundraisers during the first dedicated meeting last Tuesday at Fire District 7 Station 31.

The Rotary and Monroe Police have a long history of cultivating a strong relationship. Staff and volunteers collaborate each year for Monroe’s National Night Out, which is believed to be one of the largest events in Snohomish County. Between 2,500 and 3,000 people to take part in annual activities designed to build positive partnerships between first responders, law enforcement and the residents they serve.

The department’s yearly budget for the K-9 program is about $34,700, according to Deputy Chief Ken Ginnard. Clothing, professional membership, training, equipment, trips to the veterinarian, food and other services are covered for three K9s and their handlers.

Carlson said a precedent was set with Nuke. Rotary helped fundraise for the German shepherd about five years ago. He spoke with Southard this fall, and that’s when he found out how far the dog’s condition had deteriorated.

Nuke suffered from an intestinal disorder for most of his life. Changing dietary habits and supplemental medications was enough to alleviate the symptoms for years. That eventually stopped working, so his caretakers tried a new regimen. It wasn’t until last May when it became obvious to Southard and his colleagues how dire the situation had become.

Mayor Geoffrey Thomas advised staff to lower the
City of Monroe’s flagpole to half-mast on Dec. 29, three days after Nuke’s death was announced to the public. Police Chief Tim Quenzer and staff honored Southard and Nuke’s partnership at a Monroe City Council meeting.

The lovable K9 made a name for himself throughout the region and in the community, Quenzer said at the time. It didn’t take long for Carlson to realize he wanted the Rotary to help the department again.

According to Ginnard, the department does not have a set date for when they will bring on another dog. Officer Nathan Erdmann’s partner Lexi will likely be retiring toward the end of the summer. That means there will be two spaces to fill.

Nuke was a tracker, and Lexi works on cases involving narcotics, so the next K9 will be trained in one or both of those specialties, according to Ginnard. No decisions will be final until a new chief assumes command after Quenzer retires on May 1. Staff will be notified that they can submit applications to work with the new animal once the search begins.

The K9s spend hundreds of hours in training before they are certified, according to the department. The dog then trains for 16 hours every month for the rest of its life.

“The dogs are trained for tracking, criminal apprehension, evidence search, building and area search, officer protection, narcotics detection, and later, tactical operations,” according to the department.

The agency will not be a part of the committees fundraising efforts, Carlson said. The work will be accomplished entirely by the group. Once the campaign is complete, a donation will be made to the City of Monroe, and then distributed to the police department. They will then choose how best to use the money, he said.