Othello police dog joins program

EPHRATA - The Grant County Sheriff's Office restarted its K-9 program by sending a deputy and dog to training together and buying a police-trained German shepherd from the city of Othello.

Grant County Deputy Darrik Gregg is the sheriff's office only state-certified canine handler since the program was halted about eight years ago, said Grant County Chief Deputy John Turley. That's after the county's dog developed a spinal problem and was no longer able to work, he said.

But over the years, there's been a desire to bring the dogs back, he said. The sheriff's office eventually wants to have a total of four deputies and four dogs trained, Turley said.

The sheriff's office doesn't have immediate plans to ask the Grant County commissioners for money to assist the program and wants to fund it with donations, he said.

Gregg asked area businesses for donations and they responded by giving $7,500, Turley said. Cody, a 1-1/2 year-old yellow Labrador, was bought for $2,200.

"The demand is out there and people are very generous and willing to help us acquire these animals," Turley said.

Lex, Othello's dog, tracked both people and drugs and will be paired with Grant County Deputy Gary Mansford, a former military police dog handler, Turley said.

The sheriff's office plans to apply for a third dog trained to investigate arson through State Farm's fire setter prevention program and possibly cross-train the dog to find drugs. The fourth dog may be trained as a search dog to find cadavers and drugs.

Lex is now the sheriff's office's second dog. He worked in Othello for about two years, said Othello Police Chief Steve Dunnagan.

But Othello's K-9 program was considered too expensive to justify at nearly $12,000 in annual costs, Dunnagan stated. Lex was going out on assignments about 36 times in two years with about 13 of the assignments for other agencies.

The program ended Nov. 13 after the Othello City Council approved Lex's transfer to the Grant County Sheriff's Office.

Grant County will pay Othello $500 for Lex and two of his kennels.

The agreement also allows Othello to use Grant County's police dogs when needed. Grant County's dogs will visit Othello for scheduled assignments, such as school drug searches, Dunnagan said at a city council meeting.

Drug dogs are also available to Othello through Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell and the state patrol.

The sheriff's office is accepting donations for the dogs' food and medical care, he said. Donations can be given to the program by buying a gift card at Big R in Moses Lake.

For more information, call 509-765-9231.