WINONA LAKE – Winona Lake will soon have a new K-9 to help its police department assist with apprehending criminals and assisting with drug arrests.
Winona Lake Town Council Tuesday approved a request to replace the department’s former K-9, Hugo.
Hugo, a German Shepherd, died May 12 from cancer after serving the town for six years.
The cost of the K-9 is $10,000 and will be purchased by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office.
The K-9 will be purchased from Vohne Liche Kennels, Denver, Ind.
Hugo also came from that kennel.
Joe Bumbaugh, Winona Lake Police Department K-9 officer, who served as Hugo’s handler, attended Tuesday’s council meeting requesting the department be allowed to replace Hugo.
Also attending the meeting to show support for the K-9 replacement was Warsaw Police Department Lt. Joel Beam, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department K-9 officer Travis Shively, Kosciusko County prosecuting attorney Dan Hampton and Warsaw Drug Task Force member Mike Spiegel.
“We have had a successful K-9 program that started in 1999 when K-9 Jack served for seven years and then Hugo came on after that,” Bumbaugh said. “I am proud to have served as Hugo’s handler and would like to continue the K-9 program.”
He said the K-9 program is a community policing tool and crime deterrent for the community.
Bumbaugh said the Kosciusko County prosecutor’s office has agreed to provide funding to purchase the K-9, and there will not be a cost to the town.
Bumbaugh said the police car that was used when Hugo was in service is already set up and is adequate to be used for the new K-9.
Bumbaugh said he will go to the kennel to be introduced to potential K-9s, then will select a dog that will be pre-trained.
Plans are for the town to receive the K-9 in August, and begin using the dog by mid-September, Bumbaugh said.
A memorial monument is outside the Winona Lake Town Hall on the north side of the building to remember Hugo.
Town Coordinator Craig Allebach said he is happy to recommend the town support the program.
Swanson asked how many K-9 dogs there are in the city and county.
Warsaw has two K-9s and Winona Lake will have one K-9 once the replacement is selected.
Bumbaugh said Hugo assisted in more than 30 apprehensions of criminals.
Hugo worked with county and city K-9s and state police, took into custody a double homicide suspect that came to Kosciusko County from Illinois, and assisted in recovering money involved in a bank robbery in Etna Green.
The K-9 is a dual purpose narcotics and patrol dog.
It is trained to detect narcotic drugs and detecting, tracking, and apprehending fleeing suspects and detecting and tracking missing people.
The K-9 also can conduct building searches and locate possible suspects when a break-in has occurred and a possible suspect remains in the building.
The dog is trained to conduct article searches to locate lost items or possible suspect contraband.
