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Mount Vernon council approves K‑9 program after heated debate over opioid settlement funds
Summary
After more than two hours of public comment and council debate, the Mount Vernon City Council voted 4–3 to approve Resolution 10‑90 to reestablish a Mount Vernon Police Department K‑9 program. Opponents argued opioid settlement funds should instead support treatment and prevention; supporters said funding can be found without reducing those services and that the K‑9 aids public safety.
Mount Vernon — The City Council on Feb. 11 approved Resolution 10‑90, reestablishing a police K‑9 program, after a packed public‑comment period and extensive council discussion about whether opioid settlement money should be used to pay for it.
The 4–3 roll‑call vote followed more than an hour of testimony from residents and local service providers who were sharply divided. Tara Gehring, a Mount Vernon Ward 2 resident and ICU nurse, urged the council to reject the resolution, saying the proposed funding swap amounted to a "shell game" that would supplant existing programs and urged members to “vote no on resolution 10 90 and facilitate a transparent process for allocation of these settlement funds". Several other speakers urged the money be directed to prevention, treatment, and recovery programs outlined in the settlement guidance.
Supporters of the K‑9 program said the unit is a force multiplier…
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