Sparta K-9 Unit Returns After PD Officer Donates Dog

The Sparta Police Department can resume its K-9 Division.

The board of mayor and aldermen approved the donation of a dog from Sparta Police Canine Handler Justin Cunningham Thursday night. Chief Doug Goff said this is essential to drug enforcement.

“Some of these stops you can get seizures, cars, money, cash and things like that,” Goff said. “So it’s a great asset to the drug program and that also goes into the drug fund.”

Goff said that last year they lost their K-9 named Jake after the dog passed away. Goff said the officer and the new K-9 named Charlie will go through handlers training course to get the dog ready to dispatch.

“He is training with the dog every month and has been taking the dog out and training it,” Goff said. “I’ve heard real good reviews about it, I’ve seen the dog work. It’s just going to be a tremendous asset to the department and the drug program.”

Goff said the handlers course is usually about two to three weeks, but there is training that happens monthly. He said that can include on the job training.

The new K-9 Charlie is a pure bred German Shepard. Goff said that having the dog donated saved the city between $7,000 to $12,000.