Fundraiser Helps Put Teeth into Redlands PD Narcotics K-9 Unit

The Redlands Police Department’s Narcotics K-9 Unit worked to raise $20,000 in donations to support its K9 narcotics program at a fundraiser held Saturday, Sept. 12, at Gerrard’s Market. After totals came in on Thursday, Sept. 17, more than $10,000 was raised to support the program. The public was invited to attend the fundraising event with music, craft breweries, a silent auction, pet adoptions, child fingerprinting, face painting, a live band, Star Wars characters and Kona Ice. Gerrard’s will be serving ribs and turkey legs. Highlights also included K-9 demonstrations from various law enforcement agencies, Redlands Fire Department vehicles, and the RPD ballistic capable rescue/tactical vehicle and other police vehicles. Gerrard’s and the Taco Shack accepted donations to the program through Saturday, and Gerrard's also donated 10 percent of their total earnings on Saturday to the Redlands police department to fund the program. Major sponsors also included the Optimist Club of Redlands, Toyota of Redlands and Furry Face. Other donors include Coventry Pet Boarding and Emergency Pet Hospital of Redlands and VCA Northside Animal Hospital. The fundraising efforts raised money for the department’s narcotics K-9 program, including support for the current canine, Chewy, a 4-year-old German shepherd. Last year’s fundraiser at the Taco Shack raised more than $11,000. A post dated Thursday, Sept. 17 on the Redlands Police Department's official Facebook page read, "You guys are awesome and we truly appreciate you all coming out! We hope you had a good time and we are going to start planning next year's fundraiser soon!" In December 2008, the Redlands Police Department began its drug-sniffing K-9 program with Radar, a black Labrador mix, and his handler, Redlands Police Officer Dan Figgins, using only private donations. In 2012, Radar retired as a working police canine and the department acquired a trained 3-year-old chocolate Labrador named Kass, who worked with his partner Officer Patrick Estrada. Kass was retired from duty in 2013 due to health issues. He still lives with Officer Estrada and his family. In December 2013, the department received Chewy, who has been fully trained as a narcotics odor detection dog and works with Officer Estrada. Redlands Police narcotics officers frequently call on the department canine and also make him available to other local and federal agencies. Between 2008 and 2013, Radar and Kass, the department’s first two narcotics canines, helped in the interdiction and recovery of more than 50 kilos of methamphetamine, 20 kilos of cocaine, hundreds of pounds of marijuana and hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug-related money. Since January 2015, Chewy alone has been responsible for the seizure of more than 200 pounds of marijuana, 3.3 pounds of cocaine, 1 pound of heroin and 17 pounds of methamphetamine. Chewy also provides regular service to local schools through a contract with the Redlands Unified School District. Since 2008, the ongoing training, medical costs, equipment and lodging for the department’s canines have been supported entirely by private donations with no cost to the City’s General Fund. The Redlands Police Department also accepts direct donations to the K-9 program. Donations may be made out to the City of Redlands, attention Police Canine Fund, tax ID number 95-6000766. For further information, contact Patrick Estrada at 909-647-7872 or by email at pestrada@redlandspolice.org.