Crime & Safety

Avon Lake Police Department Will Get New K-9

Kimba, the most recent police dog, is now in retirement. Council approves $14,000 for new dog and 6-week training class.

The city of Avon Lake approved $14,000 to pay for a new K-9 and the accompanying six-week training class this year. The approved the funding at its May 23 council meeting.

Avon Lake Police Lt. Sean Bockelman told council’s Safety Committee last month that Kimba, the force’s K-9, retired last year after almost seven years of service and the department is seeking a new dog.

Bockelman was the K-9 handler for one of Avon Lake Police Department’s earlier dogs, Smoke. After retiring, Smoke became the sole responsibility of Bockelman. Smoke was followed by Kimba and the department is looking for a new K-9.

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City council approved using Gold Shield Canine Training in Columbus, the same company that trained Kimba.

Last month, Bockelman told council’s Safety Committee a department canine has a dual purpose.

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“It is trained as a drug dog and a patrol dog,” Bockelman said.

K-9s are trained to detect marijuana, heroin and cocaine. The dog will be trained for apprehension, building searches, article searches and apprehending suspects.

“He can do tracking if a suspect has ran from us,” Bockelman said.

The force’s next K-9 handler will be Ptlm. Jared Rudduck and the new dog will stay with his family. K-9s stay with only one handler, preferably for the life of the dog.

“You don’t change handlers,” Bockelman said.

Bockelman said Kimba, a Belgian Malinois, is now “enjoying retirement” with his handler, Ptl. Shawn Rinker. Similar to Smoke, Kimba is now the responsibility of his handler, who pays for all care and boarding.

The city has an ordinance that specified the handler of a police dog or horse has the first option to acquire a retiring dog.

“At that point dog goes home with the handler and the city has no say,” Bockelman said.

Councilman David Kos said he knows Rudduck and his family and said matching him with a K-9 would be “a good fit.”


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