Sunnyside council approves police K‑9 program; city seeks $50,000 in donations to acquire dog

Sunnyside’s City Council voted unanimously March 9 to let the Sunnyside Police Department participate in a patrol K‑9 program and to approve a $2,000 budget amendment for immediate incidental expenses.

City staff explained the program structure: the Yakima County Canine Foundation covers most recurring costs (veterinary care, routine expenses), and the department expects to seek $50,000 in donations to cover the initial acquisition, vehicle modifications, bite suits and training. The city will not pay the $50,000 initial cost from general funds, staff said; instead, handlers and volunteers will solicit community donations and foundation support. The council accepted staff’s representation that the foundation and donations would fund most ongoing costs.

Councilors asked about certification, selection and school searches. Staff said handlers will be selected through an internal testing process; there is an eight‑week training class in Yakima and dogs and handlers must be certified together. Staff said school hallway searches described by some jurisdictions are not feasible here because students no longer routinely use lockers; any use in schools would be negotiated with the school district, and staff said the superintendent had expressed reluctance to conduct searches around students.

Policy development was discussed: staff will adapt templates from Lexipol, Yakima Police Department policy and WCIA, and will seek WCIA review. Councilors also asked about vehicle modifications and where handlers live under union rules; staff said handlers must live within a 30‑minute radius per the union contract.

The motion to approve the K‑9 participation and the modest budget amendment carried unanimously by roll call.