The threat of a severe winter storm delayed the Derby Police Department’s desire to go “dog shopping” this week.
Members of the department — along with dog handlers from other departments — had wanted to travel to New York today (Tuesday, Jan. 11) to speak with a vendor who equips departments with police dogs.
The department will have to put off that visit due to the storm, Police Chief Gerald Narowski told the two-member Board of Police Commissioners Monday.
The city’s tax board last month voted to fund the creation of a canine unit within the Derby Police Department for about $23,000. Click here to download minutes from the meeting where the initiative was approved. The request was prompted after a rash of violence in Derby in 2009 ad 2010. Derby is one of the only towns in the Valley lacking a canine unit.
Narowski said the police department is looking to purchase a European German Shepherd, a common police dog. They have four or five vendors pitching services.
Once the dog is purchased, he or she will spend 30 to 60 days getting accustomed to its handler — in this case, Officer Dan Gochros.
The department had hoped to raise money privately to purchase the dog. However, donations just didn’t come in quickly. The department is still accepting donations, however.
In addition to purchasing and training the dog, costs include fitting a police car specifically for the dog.
The dog should be purchased by February, the chief said.
