Edmonds residents will soon see what kind of bang — make that bark — they’ll get for the bucks they donated to Edmonds Police Department’s new K-9 unit.
Ready to make good on police officers’ reputation for being keepers of the peace are Officer Josh McClure and his canine partner, Dash, an 18-month-old German shepherd. The duo expects to hit the streets of Edmonds very soon.
McClure and Dash join the ranks of Officer Shane Hawley and Rocky, who, until this week, composed the city’s only K-9 unit. Rocky the German shepherd is a common sight at public-safety community events when he isn’t helping officers from Edmonds and other cities track suspects and sniff out evidence.
Both units will alternate service on the graveyard shift — the hours their services most often are needed.
The new K-9 team was able to come on board due to the Edmonds Police Foundation’s “K-9 Fundraiser” event earlier this year. About $40,000 was raised from the community to pay for a specially equipped car, dog training and equipment such as Dash’s bulletproof vest and specialized collar and leads, said Christin Leupold of the Police Foundation.
McClure, 31, was serving on narcotics detail prior to being selected as Dash’s partner. He began his new job in October.
After play acting the “suspect” in a K9 demonstration during his police Explorer Scout days, McClure said he “got hooked” on K9 work. He jumped at the chance to move into it when the Edmonds Police decided to add an additional K9 unit.
Helping train the new team was Officer Linda Binkley, an experienced K9 officer who McClure said has been “just tremendous” in that capacity.
McClure and Dash will undergo certification testing Sunday, Dec. 17. They must meet state competency requirements and accumulate 400 hours of training — they have about 370 now.
Dash lives with McClure, his wife and their 1-year-old daughter.
“He fits right in. He gets along with my daughter … they are little wrestling buddies,” McClure said.
The family has another dog — a black Labrador retriever — who is “a grumpy old lady” and doesn’t want much to do with Dash, McClure added.
His human partner noted that Dash is “just a big puppy and that’s good.”
Dash’s name came from a student at Sherwood Elementary School, who won a naming contest sponsored by the Police Foundation.
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