Posted: 6/26/07
County board approves lease agreement for K-9 officer
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
The Houston County Sheriffís Department will have another officer on duty, but the cost to the county will be minimal.
The Houston County Board approved an agreement with Lt. Tracie Erickson of the Houston County Sheriffís Department to lease his three-year-old German shepherd named Virgil, as the countyís K-9 dog. The lease agreement, which is contingent on County Attorney Rick Jacksonís review and employee union approval, was approved during the June 19 commissionersí meeting.
Sheriff Doug Ely and Chief Deputy Scott Yeiter introduced Lt. Erickson and Virgil to the county board on April 24.
Ely proposed the county lease Virgil from Erickson for one year with the option to renew the contract. He reported public support for a K-9 officer in Houston County is there, and feels the majority of the costs involved in adding Virgil to his staff will be covered through donations.
Ely reported over $4,500 in donations have been made for the K-9 program. His department has also received an aluminum canine kennel from Wabasha County that fits in the back of a squad car.
According to Yeiter, an area kennel has offered to donate food for the K-9 program, and an area vet clinic has offered to donate vet services.
"We really feel the support is out there, and are confident this program can sustain itself," Yeiter said.
Had the county purchased a fully-trained K-9 dog, the price tag would have been in the $7,500 to $10,000 range, according to Erickson. Virgil was sired in Germany, and comes from a long line of K-9 dogs. Erickson, who is a certified K-9 trainer, got Virgil when he was a pup and has been training him ever since.
Houston Countyís newest officer was the "top dog" at the recently-held certification trials held in the Twin Cities. Out of 16 dogs, Virgil placed first.
Virgil is trained to do drug searches for five different types of illegal drugs, and also for search and rescue. Erickson pointed out that the dog is not trained to sniff out bombs or search for cadavers.
The cost for liability insurance and the lease will be approximately $2,500 per year.
At the April 24 meeting, Commissioner Tom Bjerke asked if the county would need to hire on another deputy if Erickson becomes the county K-9 officer. Ely responded having Virgil on the staff would be like having another officer. Virgil would be with Erickson 24-7, and would serve as his partner.
Ely added at the present time Fillmore County does not have a K-9 dog, but Winona County does. Bjerke asked if other counties would request Virgilís services. Ely replied counties in the area task force share K-9 dogs but are then compensated accordingly. At the present time, Houston County has utilized a K-9 dog from La Crosse at $75 per hour, with a three hour minimum
Jacksonís review of the contract is a routine procedure. The employee unionís approval has to do with the change in wages for Erickson, who will be assuming additional duties as the countyís K-9 officer and Virgilís trainer.
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