To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Chief Ken McKlem, Sheriff’s Office Bureau Chief
Prepared By:
prepared
Sergeant Brian Starbuck; Sheriff’s Office
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presenter
Presenter: Sergeant Brian Starbuck; Sheriff’s Office
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Subject:
title
1:00 PM *K9 Retirements
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The Sheriff’s Office requests the Board of County Commissioners approve and authorize the Sheriff to sign the Canine Retirement Agreements between Arapahoe County and Tyler Fechner and James Stiltner, both deputy sheriffs and former canine handlers for the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office. ACSO has made the determination to medically retire two canines. The Sheriff’s Office requests moving this item to consent agenda for formal approval and signature authorization.
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Background and Discussion: K9 Atlas has suffered a series of back injuries that he is unable to recover from and which leave him in too much pain to conduct the activities of a working dog. K9 Doc has been discovered to have a neurological condition that causes unpredictable seizure type events, making it unsafe to have him responding to high-risk calls. The handlers wish to take responsibility for the canines. A contract will be signed between the Sheriff’s Office and the handlers that relieves the County of future liability associated with these retired canines.
Fiscal Impact: Two new canines will be purchased to replace these retired canines; however, Back the Blue K-9 Force has pledged to reimburse the Sheriff’s Office for the purchases. The former handlers will purchase K9 Atlas and K9 Doc, respectively, each for the sum of one dollar to the County of Arapahoe.
Alternatives: The alternative would be to seek out an appropriate rescue agency for K9 Atlas, if such a rescue exists. K9 Doc only responds to his handler, Deputy Stiltner. Should he not be allowed into Deputy Stiltner’s home, he would likely need to be euthanized.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☐Be fiscally sustainable
☒Provide essential and mandated service
☐Be community focused
Staff Recommendation: Retiring K9s into the homes of their handlers has been the accepted practice at ACSO as well as most law enforcement agencies. ACSO Special Operations staff agrees this is the best course of action.
Concurrence: The Sheriff’s Office is in concurrence with Dawn Johnson, representing the County Attorney’s Office.