Crime & Safety

Canine May Join Muskego Police Force

Police officials say not having a police dog poses a security risk for residents and officers.

The Muskego Police Department would get its own police dog under a proposal in front of the city's Public Safety Committee, as the Muskego NOW reports. 

Police say the need is there, noting Muskego officers have made more than 100 requests to other departments to use their police dogs since 2009, according to the report. 

In a report to committee members, Lt. Andrew Kraus wrote that the lack of a canine has hampered the department's ability to track fleeing suspects and search suspicious vehicles. 

"The citizens of Muskego will be at greater risk due to decreased ability to interdict illegal drugs or locate suspects who may pose a danger," Kraus said. 

Having no dog also poses a greater risk to officer safety, Kraus wrote, like when officers search buildings after burglary alarms. He noted one instance in which the department used a canine through mutual aid to find a suspect hiding in a crawl space.

"The canine was the only way to safely apprehend this subject," Kraus wrote. "The simple presence of a canine can often de-escalate a potential violent situation."

Initial costs to start a canine program are estimated at about $18,000, with $3,450 in annual costs after that. Some costs could be offset through donations and public support, officials said.

The Public Safety Committee will consider the proposal in its Aug. 7 meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall, W182S8200 Racine Ave.

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