HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-06-01 PACKET 06.A. Cottage
J Grove
��er� Pride and Qro�P�rity Me�t
Clt�/ COUI'1CII PRESENTATIONS
Acfion Request Form 6.A.
Meeting Date
6/1/2016
Department
Public Safety
Title of Request
Recognition of K9 Blitz Retirement
Staff Recommendation
Recognize K9 Blitz for his 9 years of service and present a plaque to OfFicer Mike
Vandervort and K9 Blitz
ATTACH MENTS:
Description Type Upload Date
Recognition of K9 Blitz Retirement Cover Memo 5/26/2016
Cattage
,� Grove C�ty of Ct�ttage C�rove
���'�c�ride�rtbptusPer{tyMeet Public �afety — PolicelFirelEMS �����
To: Honc�rable Mayor and City Gouncil
�harlene Stevens, City Administrat�r
From: Craic� Wc�olery, Dir+�ctor of Public Safety �1��
Date: May 26, 201 fi
Subject: REGC}GNITIC}N C}F K� BLITZ RETIF�ENIENT
Introduction
Effective May 27, 201fi K9 B{itz will serve his last shi#t as a !�9 for the City t�f Gt�ttage
Grove, serving the comm�nity far 9 years. His handler P€�lice 4fficer Paramedic Ntike
Vandervort, wilf continue ta serve the ci#y as a police officer paramedic.
K9 Blitz {with his handler(Jfficer Vandervart} has been a valuable rn�mk���c�f this
c�epartment, making cauntless ap�rehensions, drug detectic�ns and public presentations
sinc� 20(}7.
Discussion
Blitz was introdueed tc�the Cattage Grove Ci�r C�ur�cil in June of 20t17. B�itz is c�fficially
the third K9 for the Catta�e Grove Palice Qepa�tment. C�fficer Gary Granos hat� his FC9
partner "Fritz" in 19�8 and C}ffic�r Denis Erickse�n with his K9 par�ner`tMajc�r" in 1 J74.
After b�ing idle for rnany years, a gras� roats effort#o start another KJ b�gan. Th�
Mayor and City �ouncil fully supported the implementation of a new K9.
Blitz was k�orn in 200� in th� Czech Republic. Attended the St. Pau� Polic� K9 training
course with O#fiic�r Vandervort in March of 2t107, Nar�c�tics schot�l in 2t?07 and soc�n
after receiuing his United States Police Canine Assaciatior� {USPCA} PQ1 certific�tian.
Ther� were many supporters that made this program a success. A special thank y�u
goes out to 1Nashington County Cnmmissioner Karla Bigham {then City Council
member) for her suppark af this program, the Public Safety Bnard {then Crime
Prev�ntic�n Advisory Board}for its continual fundraising effarts raising over $14,000.00
to help launch #he program.
In addition ta cc�untless individual citizen donations, many local businesses made
significant dr�natic�ns of goods and senrices and funding. Some t�f the notable busi�ess
donations were:
• 3M Cottage Grove for financial danations and praviding a space for the K9
abstacle course
• Cogentrix fc�r years of financial dc�nations
• CP Rai1 for financia� �onatian
• Co#tage Grove Anirnal Haspital fc�r veterEnary�ervices
• Gt�uck and Dan's of Cottage Grove f�r dog food
• Boy Scaut Troop 237 for their constructiQn of the Qbstacle course
• Applebee's far sev�ral pancake breakfasts
C}wnership and responsib�lities of Blitz will �e transferred frc�m th�; city over#a Qfficer
Mike Vandervort. Blitz wif� contir�ue ta reside with Mike and his famiEy and enjoy
re#irement as a "civilian".
In Blitz's rep�acement dfficer Nils Torning and his K9 partner "�unnar'° wil( graduate
from the St. Paul Palice K9 a�ademy on May 2B, 20'!6 and wili go into service June S,
2tl'16.
Recornmenda#ion
Recognize K9 Blitz for his 9 years of serviGe and pr�sent a plague tc� (�fficer Mike
Vand�rvort and K9 Blit�.