Polson Police K-9 Brody retiring this year
POLSON POLICE K-9 Brody smiles at a group of children at the North Lake County Public Library in Polson as his handler, Capt. Alan Booth, talks about Brody’s responsibilities. (Ashley Fox/Lake County Leader)
The community listened to the Polson Police Department when it was announced late last year that the K-9, Brody, is close to retirement.
In less than one year, Polson residents and surrounding citizens have helped the department raise approximately $10,800, surpassing the original goal of $8,000.
“It’s pretty cool because the citizens of this community raised this money,” Capt. Alan Booth, current K-9 handler for the department, said Friday afternoon.
The community’s generosity has allowed the department to order a German short-haired pointer, which Booth said is a work dog as well as social.
Brody is a roughly 8-year-old yellow Labrador who is showing signs of aging.
Previously, Booth said that the new pup would be not only an officer, but also a public relations employee to help educate both children and the community about how the program works.
The new dog will not be a bite dog, he added.
Booth confirmed that Officer Cody Doyle will be the new handler. He’ll be in training with the pooch from Aug. 29 through Oct. 27, at Shallow Creek Kennel in Sharpsville, western Pennsylvania.
The decisions to use Shallow Creek Kennel were made because as Booth explained, there aren’t any K9-training facilities closer to home, and it’s also the same place that Montana Highway Patrol and Ronan Police Department use for training.
During a meet-and-greet with Brody at the North Lake County Public Library in Polson on Friday, June 15, Booth told a room full of about 50 children and parents that while Brody can currently detect five drug scents, the new K-9 will detect four.
He explained that the department thought it was best to omit marijuana because as Booth said, legislation could change in the next five years where marijuana could be legal.
The new dog will be able to alert on methamphetamine, heroin, MDMA (ecstasy) and cocaine.
While most of the funds for the new pooch have been raised, Booth said that the department will still accept donations for expenses of the dog as well as flying Doyle to Pennsylvania “and living there for 30 days” then flying back to Montana.
Booth estimates the cost will be an additional $3,000.
For those interested in making a donation to the K-9 program, donations can be made to the Polson Police Department K-9 fund.
Call the department at (406) 883-883-8200, extension 5.