The Oregon Police Division will be re-establishing its K-9 program, thanks to a federal grant that was awarded this fall.
Part of the $963,000 COPS grant will be used to buy two K-9 units with training, vehicles, and equipment.
The funds for the COPS grant will be available at the start of 2025. Selection of officers to be trained as handlers will start the first of the year. The K-9s will begin active duty in the summer or fall and continue until they retire.
“It’s extremely important for a police division our size to have a K-9 unit, especially since we are part of a large metropolitan area and have a heavily traveled state route and I-280 interstate,” said Joel Mazur, city administrator. “It adds to the capabilities of the police division and also provides for officer safety.”
Police Chief Brandon Begin said the dogs are expected to be active between six and 10 years before they retire.
Grimm, the city’s first K-9, worked from 2013 until 2022.
“He was a very good dog, and he did a great job. We were very happy with his performance,” Chief Begin said of the Belgian Malinois.