NEW PALESTINE — A future member of the New Palestine Police Department is getting ready to take an overseas plane ride from Holland to Indiana for training.
The police department will get its K-9 Belgian Malinois, named Hugo, sooner rather than later thanks to fundraising and generous donations. If all goes according to plans, the dog is expected to join the department by this fall, town officials said.
Police Chief Bob Ehle said the department is only about $1,500 away from the estimated total of $20,000 needed to completely pay for and get specialized training for the dog. But officials have enough money to go ahead and order the puppy and have it shipped from a breeder in Holland. They plan to do that in the next couple of days.
"We’re really excited to take the next step and get the dog here," Ehle said.
The department has been raising money for several months and received a $5,000 donation from New Palestine American Legion Post 182. That funding, coupled with a few other fundraisers in the near future, are expected to push the fund-raising over the top.
Once in the United States, Hugo, who is still a growing puppy, will be trained by Julie Case, owner of Ultimate Canine, Westfield.
She trains service dogs and animals who work with children in hospitals. She has also trained many of the current county K9s.
"Her dogs are social dogs and make great narcotic and tracker dogs," Ehle said. "All the county guys tell us, ‘Even if you have to wait an extra six months, wait for her to train the dog, because she will make you an awesome dog.’"
Once trained, Hugo will work and live with Officer Tyler Batton.
It will be the first time the police force in New Palestine has had a trained dog since 2001.
The council recently approved the $9,000 deposit needed to order the dog. That is money well-spent, council member Jan Jarson said.
Having a K9 on duty with the town’s nighttime officer will make the shift a little safer, Jarson said. It will also allow town officers to rely on their own resources instead of summoning a K9 elsewhere in the county when one is needed.
"The county has always been willing to help us out, and now we can reciprocate," Jarson said.
She also likes the aspect of having a dog the community can support since they were the ones who helped pick up the cost for the animal.
"Everybody in the community had a goal of raising money to get the dog, and now we’re going to see the results of that," Jarson said.
