Muskego Poised to Add Canine to Police Force

The calls of support flooded into the Muskego Police Department after news stories about its desire to add a canine to the force.

Many of those people are ready to contribute not just moral support, but financially as well.

At a Public Safety Committee meeting Wednesday, Jodie Gruenstern of Animal Doctor brought a jar containing more than $200, raised at Jammin' on Janesville from selling root beer floats, as well as a stack of signatures in support.

More importantly, Gruenstern had a letter of commitment from a benefactor for $18,000, which would help cover the initial start-up costs of a canine program.

The widespread support will likely make it an easy decision for Muskego Common Council members to approve the canine, said Alderman Rob Glazier, who is the chairman of the Public Safety Committee. The committee unanimously recommended the council do just that. 

"Obviously, the community supports this. And if the community wants to support this financially, it makes the council's decision that much easier," Glazier said.

The council could vote on the issue as early as Tuesday, Aug. 13. 

About $48,000, which includes the purchase of a new squad car for about $30,000, is needed to initiate the program, Police Chief Craig Moser said. 

The city hopes to solicit enough donations to cover those costs. The Police Department projects about $3,450 in annual costs after that. 

Not having a dog has hampered the department's ability to track fleeing suspects and search suspicious vehicles, and also poses a greater threat to officer safety, officials said.

Muskego police have made more than 100 requests to other departments to use their police dogs since 2009. 

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