To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Tyler Brown, Sheriff
Prepared By:
prepared
Kenneth McKlem, Special Operations Captain, Sheriff’s Office
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presenter
Presenter: Kenneth McKlem, Special Operations Captain, Sheriff’s Office
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Subject:
title
Canine Transfer Agreement - Mako and Zero
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The Sheriff’s Office requests the Board of County Commissioners approve the Sheriff to sign Transfer Agreement between Arapahoe County, acting on behalf of the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office and D.J. Ruybal and Brady Wood (Former Handlers) both deputy sheriffs and former canine handlers for the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s office. The ACSO has made the determination to retire K9 “Mako” and K9 “Zero” from service as law enforcement canines due to the handlers no longer being assigned as K9 handlers. 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 “Mako” and K9 “Zero” have been with the ACSO since 2018. Both have served the citizens of Arapahoe County for over three (3) years. The ACSO made the determination to retire K9 “Mako” and K9 “Zero” from service as a law enforcement canines. Deputies Ruybal and Wood are both no longer assigned as K9 Handlers. The Former Handlers desire to assume ownership and take possession of K9 “Mako” and K9 “Zero” and the Sheriff’s Office wishes to divest itself of both ownership and vicarious or direct liability for the subject canine. The odds of successfully transitioning K9s bonded to these handlers, whom they lived with 24/7 for three years are mixed. There is already one K9 vacancy for which a new handler needs to be selected and dog acquired, and doing 2 others at the same time is more efficient and cost effective from a training and staff time perspective. The original purchase costs of K9 “Mako” and K9 “Zero” were reimbursed by the Back the Blue 501c3 organization so they ultimately cost ACSO nothing to acquire.
Fiscal Impact: The former Handlers will purchase K9 “Mako” and K9 “Zero,” respectively, each for the sum of one dollar to the County of Arapahoe.
Alternatives: The alternative is for the County to not transfer ownership of canine K9 “Mako” and K9 “Zero” and have the County maintain ownership and vicarious or direct liability for the subject canines.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☐Be fiscally sustainable
☐Provide essential and mandated service
☒Be community focused
Staff Recommendation: In this section provide the staff recommendation, if any, associated with the topic of the study session.
Concurrence: The Sheriff’s Office Administration and the Public Safety Bureau are in concurrence with this recommendation.