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Umatilla Eagles Boost Police Dog Program

    “It’s fantastic that groups like the Eagles step up.”
    Umatilla Mayor Chris Creech joined a chorus of appreciation during last week’s meeting of the Umatilla City Council, during which the Umatilla Fraternal Order of the Eagles #4491 provided a big kickstart toward the city’s plans to acquire a new police service dog.  
    The Eagles, represented at the meeting by member Rhonda Locklear, donated a check in the amount of $7,664.75 to the city, roughly half of the amount needed by the city to acquire a new service dog.  After going many years without a service dog, the city is looking to purchase an animal for use in narcotics detection, search and rescue, and community outreach. Cost of the animal could run as much as $15,000, with the balance expected to come out of next year’s city budget.
    “We’re well on our way,” Creech said while thanking the Eagles for the substantial donation toward the project.
    Umatilla Police Chief David Seeley presented the council with two options for a police dog during the meeting, with the council ultimately agreeing with Seeley that the city would be better served with a ‘single purpose’ trained dog, rather than a ‘patrol dog’ that is more expensive up front and requires more training.
    Seeley presented data that the dog, once purchased and placed into service, could assist with thousands of interactions during a single year, from traffic stops, lost or missing persons - of which there have been 13 so far this year - and more.  The dog could assist sheriff’s office operations in the area, as well as support other municipalities if requested.
    Umatilla has been without a service dog for many years, with the department last having such a tool in the 1990’s.