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Whitesburg Mayor and Council approve purchase of police K‑9 for drug searches and tracking
Summary
On Dec. 19 the Whitesburg Mayor and Council voted 3-0 to approve purchase of a dual‑purpose police K‑9 for narcotics detection and tracking. Funding will include $7,000 from ARPA city funds and additional support from Dogs on Duty; training is scheduled to begin at the end of January.
The Whitesburg Mayor and Council on Dec. 19 voted 3-0 to approve the purchase of a dual‑purpose police K‑9 for the Whitesburg Police Department, the council record shows. Councilmember Chris Lewis moved to approve the purchase; Councilmember Donna Whitley seconded the motion and the body voted 3-0 to adopt it.
Councilmember Chris Lewis told the meeting the purchase includes liability insurance for the dog and that he and Chief of Police Chris Gilliland are working to raise funds to cover food and other incidentals. "If anyone has any other questions Mr. Moses is here," Lewis said, introducing the trainer who answered technical questions about handling and training.
Moses, the trainer, described a planned bonding and training schedule, saying he will delay full training until late January so the handler and dog can bond first. "I'm not going to start the fully training of the dog until the end of January," Moses said, explaining that he will return the dog to basic training steps so the handler and dog learn together.
Chief Chris Gilliland said the K‑9 will be used for narcotics detection, tracking and certain traffic stops where a dog alert can provide probable cause to search. "With a K9 there's always a need if you work a lot of traffic. Our main goal cause of the K9 is because of the drugs," Gilliland said, describing local enforcement needs and past incidents where a dog would have been useful.
Councilmembers questioned how the city would manage handler transitions and backups; the council discussed a designated backup handler and the potential need for recertification if a new officer takes over a dog. Gilliland said the county has offered to swear the dog in to allow cross‑agency use.
On funding, Lewis said "$7,000 will come ARPA City Funds and the other will come from Dogs on Duty." The trainer also said Dogs on Duty is sending a temperature sensor. The council identified the incoming K‑9 as "Molly." The minutes record the formal vote as 3-0 in favor of the purchase.
The meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
