Rotary Club raises funds for Monroe Police K9 program

The Monroe Rotary Club raised $10,000 for the Monroe Police K9 program

Rotary Club member Ric Carlson presented the check during a recent Monroe City Council meeting, where interim Deputy Chief Ryan Irving accepted.

“This money couldn’t have come at a better time,” he said.

The motivation came after officer Jason Southard’s former partner, the late Ebby Calvin “Nuke” LaLoosh, passed away in December. The police dog struggled with an intestinal disorder for most of his life.

Changing dietary habits and supplemental medications was enough to alleviate the symptoms for years. Southard and his colleagues saw by May 2017 how much the 5-year-old German Shepard’s condition had worsened.

Southard and Nuke were exceptionally close. The tracker was also beloved by the Monroe community over the years.

Mayor Geoffrey Thomas ordered the city’s flag to sit at half-mast days after Nuke’s death.

“I sure loved him,” Southard said in an interview with the Monitor a few weeks later.

Carlson said he and a few other Rotarians found out about Nuke’s situation during last fall’s Citizen’s Academy, an 11-week course for residents to learn more about how their local law enforcement agency functions. The group decided they wanted to help, he said.

The Rotary and Monroe Police have a long history of collaborating. They work together each year for Monroe’s National Night Out, believed to be one of the largest events in Snohomish County. Between 2,500 and 3,000 people take part in annual activities designed to build positive partnerships between first responders, law enforcement and the people they serve.

The Rotary also helped the department fundraise for Nuke about five years ago. What surprised Carlson, this time around, was who participated.

“It involved other citizens and people who have no other connections but this to the community,” he said.

The Monroe Community K9 Support committee was run under the Rotary’s umbrella, but donations came in from around the region. Island County’s Whidbey Island Kennel Club gave $5,000, Carlson said.

“It is kind of really encouraging how many people wanted to be a part of this and wanted to help support it,” he said.

Monroe’s Myownly Boarding Kennel donated $1,500, and Evergreen Speedway gave $1,200, according to council documents. Theresa Davis also organized a successful 5K run this summer.

A small turnout yielded $704, according to the committee. Seattle K9s Blitz and Pele and their handlers came out to show support.

The committee’s original goal was to raise $12,000. They also announced a commitment to fundraise and invest $5,000 for the department’s K9 fund annually.

The department’s yearly budget for the K-9 program has been about $34,700. That covered clothing, professional membership, training, equipment, trips to the veterinarian, food and other services for three K9s and their handlers.

“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.

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 on the force. They are also deployed upon request and availability throughout the region to assist other agencies.

Officer Nathan Erdmann’s narcotics partner K9 Lexi was honored by the city during her retirement at the end of August. Former Deputy Chief Ken Ginnard said this spring that staff were waiting until a new police chief was named to determine which dog would be replaced first. Chief Tim Quenzer left his post in May.

Irving reports the MPD has started its search for its next tracking K9 officer. He said the willingness to give is one of the best characteristics of the Monroe community. 

The rotary’s initial donation was gifted to the city, and will be earmarked for the purchase of the next K9. About $1,700 more was raised. Along with future funds, it will go toward the annual maintenance support for the program.

Councilmember Jeff Rasmussen acknowledged the rotary’s efforts during the Sept. 18 meeting.

“I just want to personally thank you for that and everything you have done,” he said.