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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Subject:
title
K9 Retirements
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office has made the determination to medically retire two canines. ACSO requests the Board of County Commissioners approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Canine Retirement Agreements for K9 Atlas and K9 Doc.
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Background and Discussion: K9 Atlas has suffered a series of back injuries that he is unable to recover from and leaves him in 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. Previous contracts have been signed for previously retired sheriff’s office canines. This contract was adapted due to recent lawsuit settlements in other jurisdictions. Recommendations from those legal cases were included in the new contract to better protect the County. A contract will be signed between the County and the Handlers that relieves the County of future liability associated with these retired canines.
Fiscal Impact: Two new sheriff’s office 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 to allowing the canines to retire to their handlers’ homes would involve seeking out an appropriate rescue agency for K9 Atlas, it is unknown 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
Concurrence: The Sheriff’s Office is concurrence with Dawn Johnson, representing the County Attorney’s Office. The Board approved moving this to the consent agenda at their meeting on September 30, 2024.
Resolution: Attached is a copy of the draft resolution.