Orono police update: new evidence K‑9, traffic enforcement tools and recruitment plans

Orono Police Sergeant Ryan Spencer updated the council on patrol activity, an incoming evidence-search canine and traffic enforcement tools the department is using to collect data and reduce unsafe driving.

Spencer said the department expects the new canine to arrive in late February or early March and that the handler and dog will train through June; the dog is intended for evidence search and tracking — for locating missing or vulnerable people — not for suspect apprehension. “This dog is gonna be evidence search dog… we will not be using him as an apprehension dog for criminals,” Spencer said.

On traffic, Spencer said the department has placed a speed‑data trailer by the Seahorse Condos to gather westbound data and can redeploy or add a second unit to capture eastbound traffic. He described the state‑granted, unmarked “traffic enforcement education” car (an unmarked white Mazda) as both an education and enforcement tool; Spencer said it produced about 24 hours of enforcement results over a recent weekend, including DWIs and narcotics contacts.

Spencer also said the department’s dedicated recruitment process is active: the police department’s application window for a new officer closes the upcoming Friday, and department representatives will recruit at a Mankato university career event for future openings and internship candidates.

Council members asked about long‑term K‑9 staffing, scheduling of the new K‑9 in community outreach (schools and public events) and how the speed data trailer could be positioned to produce more useful measurements on problem corridors.