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Finance committee backs ordinance to fund K-9 program for Skagway Police
Summary
The Skagway finance committee voted to recommend Ordinance 25-04 to the assembly, which would amend the FY25 budget to fund a K-9 narcotics-detection program at the Skagway Police Department. Chief Radek said the dog would focus on transportation hubs and training costs would include yearly recertification.
The finance committee on Wednesday recommended that the assembly consider Ordinance 25-04, an amendment to the FY25 budget to establish a K-9 program at the Skagway Police Department.
Chief Radek, Skagway Police Department, told the committee the proposal was prompted by a past double-overdose case and a broader regional trend in illegal narcotics. "We put together a proposal for a potential canine program for the police department," he said, adding that Southeast partners and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area coordinator provided their program model and numbers.
Radek said the department has one officer with extensive military canine experience and that both he and Officer Ackerman have worked with canines. He described the K-9 as a single-purpose detection dog, not a patrol or apprehension dog, and said it would be a sporting breed such as a Labrador or golden-retriever type. "Single purpose, not a patrol dog," he said.
The chief said the dog would primarily be used at transportation nodes — seaplanes, the ferry terminal and U.S. Postal Service shipments — and could assist border or customs operations and regional partners when requested. He added that training will use pseudo-narcotics for imprinting and that the vendor, Highland Canines, performs initial training and provides a warranty-like remediation program.
Committee members pressed on costs and logistics. Radek provided an estimated startup cost of about $25,000 and ongoing annual costs of roughly $5,000, including about $660 per year for food and an estimated $3,400 per year to send the handler and dog for recertification. He said emergency veterinary care would require travel to Juneau or Whitehorse and could raise costs.
Assembly member Potter moved that the committee recommend Ordinance 25-04 to the assembly; the motion was seconded by the chair and approved by voice vote in committee.
The committee recorded its recommendation; the ordinance is scheduled for the assembly agenda the following day.
