Council Approves Purchase of Two K9 Police Dogs for Westland Police Department

For Immediate Release- Official Press Release

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Press Release

Office of

Mayor William R. Wild

36300 Warren Road Westland, Michigan 48185

Office 734.467.3200 / Fax 734.422.1230

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

===================================================== Council Approves Purchase of Two K9 Police Dogs for Westland Police Department

October 16, 2020 - On Monday, October 5, the Westland City Council approved the purchase of two (2) German Shepherds, essential equipment, training, and certifications for the Police Department, in the amount not to exceed $25,200.00.

Over the past two years the Westland Police Department has retired both of the Police K9 Unit dogs. "K9s Hemi and Narco served the City of Westland well," commented Police Chief Jeff Jedrusik. "We are now ready to move into the next generation of Police K9 Service."

Officer Andrew Teschendorf and Officer Derek Trosper were selected to become Westland's new K9 handlers.

The Westland Police Department has partnered with the K9 Academy Training located in Taylor, MI for the past 25 years. The K9 Academy is one of the most highly respected Police K9 Training centers in the State of Michigan. The Police Department will purchase two police German Shepherds and conduct training and certification through the program. This K9 training program will begin in October of this year. Both Officers will be required to complete a four month training academy with their canine partners. The team will be required to pass an extensive certification course as part of this training. The K9 team will continue weekly training to maintain their skills. consisting of life-like scenarios which officers may come across while on patrol.

The Westland Police Community Partnership Foundation has received donations from Community organizations in order to help sponsor this program. The program will be funded this budget year by these donations as well as the Westland Police Drug Forfeiture Funds. Future training costs of $1700 annually will be funded through the Police operating budget.

For more information, please call (734) 467-3200.

K9 Officer Odin

K9 Officer Rio

Westland, Michigan is the state’s 10^th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000.

Westland has been recognized as one of 24/7 Wall Street’s America’s Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single – family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities. Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel.

Westland is well known as a premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds of shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland shopping Center, one of the country's original four regional malls.

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the best schools in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards. Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed State averages and the district has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School awards.

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region. Westland's Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently to “cut the red tape” and expedite the approval process for new business development.