PULASKI, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A fundraising effort is underway in Pulaski with the goal of raising enough money to replace the police department’s K9 Patrol.
The department’s current K9 officer, Raider, along with his handler, Officer James Tinlin, are set to retire this August.
They’re looking to raise $80,000 to cover the cost of a new K9, handler training and a K9 equipped vehicle.
The department would use the K9 to help with narcotics, tracking and suspect apprehension.
Raider and Officer Tinlin have served together for eight years.
Tinlin tells WLUK it’s time to step away. “He’ll be 10 when we retire, when I retire and I think to try to rebond a 10-year-old single-purpose dog to another handler by the time they do that, he’d be so old”
To raise money, organizers are hosting a 5K FUND RUN on April 23.
Organizers are also selling plush Raider dogs and collector coins, costing $15 each.
Both the coins and the stuffed dogs are available for purchase at the Pulaski Police Department, 585 E Glenbrook Dr.
The stuffed dogs are also available to those who register for the 5K event on Active.com.
