Merrillville Police In The Beginning Stages Of Making A K9 Division
(Video of training linked below in this article)
In recent months The Merrillville Police Department decided to put together a K9 division for the city. A group of 8 Merrillville Officers signed up to participate in the program and begin training as soon as the program can get funds gathered. Assistant Chief Kosta Nuses of The Merrillville Police Department said, “This program will be solely funded by donations & fundraisers from businesses and citizens.” Each K9 team consisting of a handler & dog is roughly around $25,000 in costs which includes: the dog, training of the dog, training of the handler, and equipment such as cars outfitted to carry the K9’s. Merrillville is looking to get a crew of 4 handlers all together to cover each shift. The department will be posting more on fundraisers and where or how you can donate in the near future. For now donations can be made by calling the Merrillville Police Chief’s Secretary at 219-769-3531.
“The K9’s are a major asset to local departments not only for searching suspects but also searching for missing people,” Nuses said. “The dogs act also as a major distraction in hostile situations involving suspects which in turn helps in ending those situations safely for all involved,” Nuses added.
Merrillville Councilman Leonard White told RNS, “I appreciate the guys that took this bull by the horns to get this program going that is solely needed in the city.” “As of now in the city we have to wait for outside agencies to respond with a dog if needed and by that time the suspect being tracked could be long gone,” White said. Within recent weeks the Councilman heard shots being fired outside of his residence and hit the floor. He quickly called 911 and officers were already in the area tracking a possible suspect car. After a brief car chase of possible suspects they took off on foot and a perimeter was established while they waited for outside agencies to bring a K9 in. “Time is of the essence in a lot of these incidents and this program will only make for a better police force for the community,” White stated.
On Monday The Crown Point Police K9 Division head up by Sgt. Jeff Eldridge and partner “Bandit” offered to let the new Merrillville applicants experience working with their dogs and to get a feel on what to expect. The officers were able to search a closed arcade room and kitchen for contraband, learn how the dog handles and reacts, and what it feels like to be taken down by the K9’s. St. Joseph County Sheriff Deputies along with a Hobart officer also came down to train with the departments.
