Jacksonville PD raising money for new K9 officer

JACKSONVILLE, TX (KLTV) - An East Texas police department is working to raise money for a new K9 officer.

Jacksonville Police Department officials said they've had their current K9 officer for about four years. Now the dog's will to work may force his retirement sooner than expected.

In and out of his patrol car has become a tiring task for K9 officer Mac. Mac has been tracking and sniffing out narcotics for the department for four years but his handler said time and age are catching up with the k9.

"They are just like human beings. Their hips start giving out and their trips to the vet become more frequent; they have medical problems come up. Especially out here on the street these 12 hour shifts are hard on a dog," said Sgt. Chase Berry Hill.

Now the department has decided to start raising money for a new K-9 officer.

They said over the past few months they've noticed a change in the 8-year-old Belgian Malinois

"We just saw him slowing down, felt like it was time for a different younger one," said Sgt. Tonya Harris.

"He seems to be uncomfortable when he's doing things for long periods of time. When we're doing things for long periods of time he's sore, you can tell. It shows on him; he's showing his age," Berryhill said.

Berryhill has been Mac's handler for a little over a year now and he says Mac's primary task of sniffing would exhaust anyone.

"I would compare it to professionally is, to close your mouth and sniff through your nose as fast as you can. For about two or three minutes and tell me how out of breath you are and its hard on them," Berryhill said.

Berryhill says the K9 is trained to work but his drive and physical abilities are limited.

"Is his will to work outworking his body? It's going to tear him down and we want him to retire and have a good quality of life," Berryhill said.
Department officials said the cost of a new K9 is about $15,000.

They plan on monitoring K-9 officer Mac to determine when he should retire from the force.

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