Sumner County Sheriff’s deputies are hoping a full house at an upcoming poker tournament will lead to a dog house.
A Poker Tournament Benefit for the Sumner County Sheriff K-9 unit will be held Friday, May 7 starting at 7 p.m., at Meadow Lanes Bowling Alley, 2111 N. A., Wellington.
First place wins $500 with the first six places receiving prizes. Lots of prizes, raffles and giveaways will also fill the evening.
All money raised from the tournament will go towards the upkeep of the department’s K-9 unit. Deputies and K-9 officers Tim Soule and Rodger Church say they are hoping they can raise enough money to get a second K-9 on the streets.
“It’s 100 percent operated on donations. We have no money from the Sheriff’s Department. Our goal is to eventually raise enough money to get a second K-9 unit. Currently we have the one and money right now is going towards feed, vet bills, training,” said Soule.
Even basic upkeep of a K-9 officer is $500, but when you tack on additional training seminars and added costs, the price of a K-9 could be as hefty as a couple of thousand a year.
“That’s just for one dog,” said Soule.
Currently the Sumner County Sheriff’s Department has one dog — Kuda — who arrived in November after being donated by a woman in Kansas. Kuda, a full-blooded German Shepherd, was born and raised in Kansas — a rarity for police dogs — keeping cost to a minimum.
Kuda and handler Soule have been out on patrol for six weeks after the dog spent a minimum of 10 weeks in training in Texas. Soule spent four weeks working with his new partner in the Southern state.
To maintain that level of training, Soule spends at least eight hours a week with Kuda to keep his skills intact and ready to go at a moment’s notice. Each K-9 unit trains to maintain certification through several different entities, Church said.
To get a second dog, a minimum of $10,000 will have to raised to purchase the dog and get the training necessary for it to patrol the County, Soule said.
Dogs used by the sheriff’s department are trained to do everything from go after the scent of drugs to tracking down missing children and adults.
K-9 units can be used on searches on the Kansas Turnpike to routine stops. They can also be used in emergency situations.
“Any time our officers call, we will respond to that,” said Soule. K-9 units can be expected to be used anywhere from once to several times a week.
Officers know how invaluable having furry backup can be.
“I think it’s vital. If we use the dog and can make one seizure of an escapee, a dangerous felon that’s out there, and the dog takes the place of putting a human in danger, then that’s a huge advantage for us,” said Soule.
The benefits of having K-9 units extend not only to officers, but to the residents of Sumner County.
“If we make one huge seizure of cash money out on the Turnpike or any other road in our County...if we can get that money and drugs off the street that’s a huge advantage, but getting the money is a huge benefit because that money can go back in the Sheriff’s Department general fund for equipment and save the taxpayers money. So the dog can make a lot more money for the department than he ever cost,” said Soule.
For more information on the tournament or to register contact Rodger Church at rchurch@co.sumner.ks.us or Tim Soule at tsoule@co.sumner.ks.us.
