The Sun Valley Police Department received approval on Thursday to bolster its force. The improvements include a new drug dog and a new police vehicle.
The Sun Valley City Council voted unanimously on April 21 to approve funding for a new drug dog, an essential component of the Narcotic Detection K9 program.
"I think it's a worthwhile program," Councilman Kevin Laird said.
Funding for the program comes from a traffic stop conducted in August 2004. The traffic stop for a speed violation on Trail Creek Road evolved into a drug investigation. The investigation resulted in an approximately $28,000 award to the Sun Valley Police Department. The money was allocated to the department to be used for narcotics investigation or education.
The department decided to allocate $24,320 to start and fund a drug-dog program for four years. The department estimates the initial start-up expenditures for the program to be approximately $14,400.
The dog will be utilized for drug detection and community education programs.
The council also approved the allocation of $4,000 collected in the drug investigation to the Blaine County Narcotics Enforcement Team for their assistance in the seizure.
The council also approved the Police Department's request to buy a new vehicle. The department intends to designate the new vehicle for the Narcotic Detection K9 program.
The council authorized the department to buy a 2005 Explorer Sport Trac vehicle for $24,570. The department budgets its funds to purchase one new vehicle each year.
