Calaveras County expanding canine program with private donations; Bearcat vehicle credited after shooting
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Summary
Lieutenant Greg Stark said the county will add a second patrol canine funded largely by private donors through the Friends of the Calaveras Sheriff's Office and recounted an officer‑involved shooting in which the department's Bearcat tactical vehicle sustained multiple rounds that likely reduced harm to officers.
Lieutenant Greg Stark said the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office is expanding its canine program and that much of the cost for new dogs comes from private donors channelled through the Friends of the Calaveras Sheriff's Office.
"We're gonna purchase [a new dog] with funds from private donors... the majority of the dog purchase is gonna be from the Friends of the Calaveras Sheriff's Office," Stark said, noting the department currently has one patrol canine and intends to bring a second on line while maintaining separate volunteer search‑and‑rescue dogs for trailing, tracking, water and cadaver work.
Stark described the careful selection and long training cycle required for a service dog and emphasized the importance of handler temperament and ongoing training to avoid problems.
He also credited private support for other items — including a bike team and a tactical Bearcat vehicle — and recounted a recent officer‑involved shooting in which the Bearcat sustained hits to the windshield, hood and axle. "Had that not been in service, that could have been a very bad day for Calaveras," Stark said, adding that the vehicle "saved lives" in that incident.
On less‑lethal options, Stark reviewed tools in the department's toolbox — Tasers, 40mm foam rounds, pepper spray — and stressed training and the preference for compliance to avoid force.
Stark said the Friends group has been a long‑standing supporter and that their donations have allowed the department to acquire equipment and capabilities that would not fit in ordinary taxpayer budgets.
