Butler police need donations for K-9 unit
Chooch works 12-hour shifts at the Butler Bureau of Police just like the rest of his co-workers, but his salary comes in the form of edible treats and the occasional belly rub.
Chooch is a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois who has been part of the K-9 department at the bureau since early 2020. His handler, Lt. Brian Grooms, said the bureau has had a K-9 program since 2012, and it has operated on donations and grant funding since its establishment.
While Grooms said there are many benefits to having a K-9 unit at a police department, he also said the funding of it can be tricky to maintain, especially when not using taxpayer money.
“We’ve been running on donated money ever since, and since then we’ve had some large, unexpected expenses,” Grooms said. “I’d like to get enough to keep the program going at least 20 more years. (The dogs) don’t get used every day, but when you need them, it’s good to have them.”
The Butler police have two K-9 officers, Chooch and Rico, who both started in 2020. The dogs replaced the original K-9, Gunner, who died in 2018, and Blade, who also retired in 2018.
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