Saturday, December 26, 2009
Campbell police would get much use out of a dog, officers said.
STAFF REPORT
CAMPBELL — The Campbell Police Department is beginning a fund-raising drive to buy a dog.
Not just any dog — a combination counter-narcotic and tracking dog. A dog like Rebel, Struthers’ police dog, whom Campbell often borrows.
“We go to Struthers first, then Youngstown, Boardman or Mahoning County,” explained Detective Sgt. John Rusnak on Friday.
“We’ve got to pick and choose when to borrow dogs,” said Patrol Officer John Gulu, adding that they don’t want to borrow other departments’ dogs unless it’s absolutely necessary.
If the department had its own dog, they said, it would be used much more routinely for everything from sniffing out drugs, tracking fleeing suspects, aiding in officers’ safety and finding missing people.
“We borrow a dog maybe a couple of times a month now, but we could use him a dozen times a week,” said Rusnak, who’s organizing the drive to raise the $30,000 it will take to buy the dog, cover the handler’s training and provide a specially equipped canine cruiser.
They are hoping residents and businesses and organizations in and outside of Campbell will contribute.
Helping them with their campaign and with advice on getting a dog is Struthers officer Jason Murzda, Rebel’s handler.
“He did all the work for Struthers, and now we’re following his guidelines,” Rusnak said.
Rusnak and Gulu added that there is no one available to write a grant for the city.
Beginning next week, they said, letters will go out to residents, businesses and organizations. Rusnak said he also will visit some businesses to solicit donations.
Anyone who would like to contribute can do it one of two ways: Go to PNC Bank on Tenney Avenue in Campbell and make a donation to a fund set up there or donate at the police department at the bottom of the municipal building on Tenney.