Waite Park Police Department Receives Grant for New K9 Officer

(KNSI) — The Waite Park Police Department is one of eight Minnesota law enforcement agencies in line to get a donation for a new K9 officer.

AKC Reunite, the largest non-profit pet identification and recovery service provider in the U.S., raised money through its AKC Reunite Adopt a K9 Cop matching grant program. The money came from AKC dog clubs and community members, up to $7,500 per grant through the Canine Support and Relief Fund. The money was matched three to one.

Waite Park Police Chief Dave Bentrud says the agency has had a long history of having a K9 unit within the department, but due to the retirement of its handler, the WPPD K9 was gifted to the St. Cloud Police Department as they had an experienced handler without a partner who needed a new dog.

Chief Bentrud says, fast forward two years, and the WPPD is hoping to re-establish its K9 program. He says they are in the process of raising funds to help cover the costs of getting a new dog and the training for a new handler.

Grants of $7,500 each were donated to the Cottage Grove Police Department, the McLeod County Sheriff’s Office, the New Hope Police Department, the Swift County Sheriff’s Office, the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office, and the Waite Police Department. Two grants were each awarded to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Saint Paul Police Department, totaling $75,000 in grants to police departments throughout Minnesota.

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