Reprinted from The Trumbull Times © Copyright 2010
January 14, 2010

By Donald Eng

Just 18 months after the Police Commission voted to decline an offer of a police dog donation, First Selectman Tim Herbst has gone before the panel to endorse the purchase of a dog in the 2010 budget.

"I've always believed in the value of a K-9 for law enforcement, and in light of the events of the last two months, I am more committed than ever to giving our officers the tools they need to protect public safety in our town," Herbst said.

The town usually calls upon police dogs from Bridgeport and the State Police when it needs K-9 assistance. Police Chief Tom Kiely has said in the past that the arrangement works reasonably well, but that he would

support the addition of a police dog to the Trumbull department. The issue has always been cost.

"As I understand it, the largest costs involved are in the purchase of a dog the training and retrofitting a car with some specialized equipment," Herbst said.

Herbst did not present specific cost estimates at Tuesday's meeting, but in 2008, when Trumbull resident Carol Hudak offered to donate a dog to the town, Kiely estimated the first year's cost at $10,633. That amount included $5,200 to purchase the dog, a $4,000 stipend to the dog's human handler, about $500 for food and up to $700 in veterinary costs. Kiely's estimate, which came from Deputy Chief Steven Fournier at the Milford Police Department, did not include the ongoing cost of the dog and handler spending one day a month training at the state K-9 facility or the cost to fit a police car with specialized dog-handling equipment.

"Even though I have taken a hard line on budgetary expenses, I believe this is money well-spent," Herbst said. "When you look at the fact that our town has a regional shopping center and a high school that has seen two bomb scares in the past year, this is absolutely a need. Public safety is not a want."

With Westfield still in the planning stages of a $35 million renovation, Herbst said he was determined to do everything in his power to ensure shoppers had a safe, enjoyable mall experience.