Galena council approves police K-9 program and budget amendment

The Galena City Council voted to authorize a police canine program and to adopt a budget amendment establishing the program’s revenue and expense lines.

The council first moved on a request from the Galena Police Department to initiate a K-9 program. Councilmember Jerry Westbury made the motion; council discussion noted the department had received a $20,000 grant that will cover the initial costs and that an existing K-9 vehicle is already available. The council described the dog as a non-aggressive, non-narcotics detection animal intended for missing-person searches and officer safety support rather than apprehension or drug interdiction.

Council then approved a budget amendment, BA24-14, to create the revenue and expense line items for the K-9 program. The amendment was presented as the financial step required to put the grant and related expenditures into the city’s accounting system. Council members conducted a roll-call vote and the motion carried.

Council members discussed training and the expected long-term assignment of the handler to the animal; however, no mandatory minimum service period for the handler was established during the discussion. The police department representative said training and selection of a suitable dog and handler remain to be completed.

The council did not attach additional conditions in the meeting record. The approved budget amendment will permit staff to record the grant receipt and pay program expenses as they occur.