MARYSVILLE — City police are running into drugs almost daily, and say that drug use is responsible for increasing burglaries, thefts and car prowls.
So, the Marysville Police Department hopes to take a bite out of crime by purchasing a drug-sniffing dog.
The department recently began a fund-raising effort for the estimated $10,000 cost. So far, they’ve gotten about $500.
"We feel the city’s gotten big enough that we can justify the use of the dog," said Sgt. Deryck McLeod, supervisor of the department’s K-9 unit. "It’s such a time-saving thing."
Serving a search warrant on a suspected drug house will tie up several officers for two to three hours "to search every little nook and cranny," but a trained dog can sniff out drugs within minutes, he said.
"We’re seeing a large increase in drug-related crimes. Methamphetamine use is going through the roof. Our guys are probably seeing meth every day. It’s clearly the drug of choice," McLeod said.
Last year, police investigated 114 drug incidents, said Marla Ringen, the department’s office manager. But that total only includes cases where drugs were directly involved. It doesn’t count associated crimes committed by people trying to feed their drug habits, she said.
Burglaries rose 18 percent in 2002, from 163 in 2001 to 191 last year. In that same period, car thefts increased 17 percent, from 221 in 2001 to 259 in 2002, and thefts rose 4 percent, from 692 in 2001 to 721 last year.
Police recently approached the City Council for permission to begin fund-raising.
"They all are very much for it," Ringen said.
The department is partnering with Pennies for Puppies, which also has helped purchase dogs for the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit. The dogs go on patrol with their handlers and serve as goodwill ambassadors when the officers take them to schools or other organizations for demonstrations.
The group helped raise money for the Marysville department’s two tracking dogs, which have been on the job about 18 months, Ringen said.
The department selected officer Joby Johnson to be the drug dog’s handler. The dog, when purchased, already will be trained, but Johnson will need about two weeks of training to learn to read the dog’s signals and learn about court rulings and laws governing drug searches.
"This has been a pressing need for some time," Ringen said. "This would just be another tool we’d be able to use to fight drugs."
"We figured we could probably utilize the dog a minimum of three to four times a week," McLeod said. "Right now, there’s only a couple of other drug dogs" in the area.
When Marysville officers need one, they have to call Monroe or Everett police, or the sheriff’s office, and hope one is available.
"To try to get one when you need it is real tough. They’re busy," McLeod said.
Reporter Cathy Logg: 425-339-3437 or logg@heraldnet.com.
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