Arvin City Council approves sale of police canine to Shafter, directs $10,000 toward K‑9 training

Arvin City Council voted unanimously to declare a city-owned police canine surplus and sell the animal to the City of Shafter for $10,000, a transaction city staff said preserves continuity by allowing the canine to remain with its existing handler.

City staff told the council the canine was purchased in about January 2023 for roughly $12,000 and is estimated to have about four working years remaining. Staff said the dog’s assigned handler left the Arvin Police Department and is now employed by the Shafter Police Department; Shafter formally offered $10,000 to buy the canine so it could remain bonded to that handler. Staff estimated that training a new handler would require a six- to eight-week course costing up to $6,000, plus additional bonding time, and recommended the sale as a reasonable recovery of the city’s original investment while avoiding near-term training and medical costs.

Vincent de Medrano, president of the Arvin Police Officers Association, told the council he supported the sale but raised concerns about the city’s broader K‑9 program. De Medrano said the department has been operating without a finalized K‑9 policy subject to meet-and-confer with the union, described past personnel and training problems, and estimated — as his opinion — that the K‑9 program has cost the city about $250,000 to operate. “Technically, as of right now, we are operating a K‑9 program with no K‑9 policy,” he said, urging the council to suspend or terminate the program until a lawful, safe structure is in place.

Council members questioned when the policy issue was raised and whether the program’s initial approvals included promised grant support. De Medrano and staff said grant funding had not materialized as expected and that some promised reassignments and training had not occurred. City staff and council clarified that Item B before the council addressed only the surplus designation and sale of the specific canine (referred to in staff materials as “Canine Doggo”); any changes to the broader K‑9 program, including termination or policy adoption, must be considered at a future meeting.

A motion to approve the sale and to direct the $10,000 proceeds to support additional K‑9 training was made, seconded and approved by roll call: Council member Tarver — yes; Council member Perez — yes; Council member Horton — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Reyes — yes; Mayor Calderon — yes. The motion carried 5–0. The council instructed the city manager to return with additional background on a formal K‑9 policy at a subsequent meeting.

The council moved into closed session following the vote for a public employee performance evaluation (Government Code section 54957(b)).