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Willard work session reviews K-9 proposal, radios and dash-camera upgrades for police
Summary
A council work session recorded a police officer's proposal for a K-9 unit (about $10,000 per dog), a trainer available through Huron County, and staff requests for mobile-radio discounts via an EMA program and dash cams that activate with emergency lights; minutes also thanked council for police bonuses and noted the department is fully staffed.
At the Oct. 20 work session, minutes record a proposal from a police officer to establish a K-9 unit. The minutes list an estimated cost of about $10,000 per dog and note a trainer is available through the Huron County Sheriff’s Department. The minutes say the dog would be housed with its handler and that city staff will verify recurring costs, rules, and procedures with other departments before moving forward. The Police Chief is recorded as supportive of exploring the unit.
Police staff also requested new mobile radios. Meeting notes say an EMA (Emergency Management Agency) program running through Jan. 31, 2026 would reduce the radios’ cost by about $20,000 if the city participates. Staff said they have applied to the Army Corps of Engineers to update the police firing range (previous applications were not selected); if selected the Corps would provide labor while the city would cover materials.
The minutes also record a desire for new dash cameras that would turn on automatically when emergency lights are activated. Separately, the minutes include a thank-you to council for recently approved police bonuses and note the department was fully staffed at the time of the meeting.
Staff recommended further investigation into the K-9 recurring costs and procedural requirements, and said staff would report back with comparisons from other departments and more detailed cost estimates.
