Cruizers make donation to TCSO K-9 Unit
The Tulare County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit received a generous donation in the amount of $8,300 from the Small Town Cruizers during their monthly cruise night Saturday at the Tulare Outlet Mall.
The Tulare County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit received a generous donation in the amount of $8,300 from the Small Town Cruizers during their monthly cruise night Saturday at the Tulare Outlet Mall.
Bob Riggi, president of the car club, said members raised the money for the K-9 Unit during its annual car show in September.
“It’s for a good cause and it benefits all of us,” he said. “We’re going to buy a K-9 for the Sheriff’s Office.”
Cpt. Mike Watson thanked the Small Town Cruizers.
“On behalf of Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, I gladly accept this generous donation,” he said. “We will name the next dog ‘Cruizer’ after the Small Town Cruizers.”
Sheriff’s K-9s are purchased with donations from the community while the Sheriff’s Office pays for their training. Total cost to purchase a K-9 and train it for patrol is approximately $13,000.
K-9s assigned to patrol are trained for protection. In dangerous situations, K-9s keep deputies out of harm’s way. Often, suspects will surrender just knowing there’s a K-9 ready to respond. However, ordering a K-9 to pursue a suspect is a last resort, Cpt. Watson said.
Two of the Sheriff’s K-9s work in detentions. They are not trained for protection but instead are trained to sniff out contraband such as cell phones, homemade alcohol, tobacco and narcotics. Thanks to them and their K-9 handlers, our four detention facilities are safer and more secure.