K-9 unit may be in Peabody Police Department s future
Peabody Police Chief Jeff Pohlman proposed Monday night at Peabody City Council meeting that his department add a K-9 unit.
"The county dog is not always available when we want it or need it," said Pohlman. "The school would like to have more frequent visits and we have only been there once this year."
Pohlman told council members that drugs and drug-related issues are a big part of the local criminal case load.
"When Hillsboro got a drug dog, they (police officers) thought the cases initially dropped about 75 percent," he said.
He added that he would be satisfied with a 40 or 50 percent drop.
"Drugs always are going to be with us," Pohlman said. "Right now we have no way of knowing what might be hidden in a vehicle on the highway or in someone's house.
"If we stop someone and things just don't seem quite right, we can guess maybe there are drugs there," said Pohlman. "But there isn't always a clear way to make an arrest.
"With a drug dog that is trained to sniff them out wherever they are, we are going to make a bigger impact on drugs in and around town."
Pohlman said Officer Travis Wilson has an interest in attending the police academy for training with a dog. Wilson would then train the other Peabody officers.
Pohlman said the cost of schooling, feeding, and caring for the dog would increase the police department budget. But he anticipated being able to pay for it through community donations and the department's diversion fund.
Pohlman said he was looking at implementing the program around the first of the year.
Council members gave their approval, calling the proposed K-9 unit a "good idea for the community."
In other business the council:
— heard the company charged with removing mercury from the bottom of the clarifier at the former sewer plant will be on site April 19. A bore will be made to see if mercury might have leached into the ground and what kind of cleanup effort will be required. Kansas Department of Health and Environment has been notified of the bore.
— heard a report from Jeff Benbrook regarding the tax status of the sewer lagoons and industrial park. Only the lagoons are tax exempt.
— agreed to amend the ordinance on Sunday sales of cereal malt beverages, after a request from grocery store owner Rick Turner, to allow the sales.
— signed a letter to KDHE requesting a public hearing on the expansion of a feedlot belonging to Jeff Busenitz southwest of Peabody.
— instructed city superintendent Darren Pickens to create a three- to five-year maintenance plan for the city's clear well and water tower. The plan will include costs for painting and repairs and will be presented to council at the next meeting.
— heard a review of nuisance properties and inoperable vehicles, heard the citywide garage sale will be April 29 and cleanup week, May 20-27, and that animal control officer Marvin Lirley will begin issuing citations to pet owners who have ignored notification regarding pet tags.
— heard the Peabody State Bank lease-purchase agreement with the city for a city shop is being reviewed by city attorney Mark Wilkerson. It was noted the bank has requested certification of KDHE approval of cleanup of the property.
— heard from Benbrook that animal control and zoning ordinances are being examined by the city attorney, judge, and prosecuting attorney. The ordinances then will be reviewed by city council and city zoning board before being approved.
— heard from Roger Charles of Peabody Council of Churches about that organization purchasing an automatic external defibrillator for use by local residents in instances when the ambulance is out of town on a call. Council agreed an AED would be useful in the community.
— heard the street committee is finalizing its suggestions for the 2006 street resurfacing project.
— approved a proposal to compensate firefighters or law enforcement officers at a rate of $12.50 an hour for "standing by" at the scene of a house fire in the city limits while they await the arrival of the state fire marshal.
— agreed to proclaim May 14-20 Emergency Medical Services week.
— agreed to require building permits for the new press box at city park and for the new city shop building.
