Truckee Police Canine Association

nd handler, or a police department and the community that it serves. As such, the Truckee Police Canine Unit is currently in the process of acquiring its first police canine. This newest addition is slated to be a black tail wagging Labrador Retriever with a love for people. Residents can expect to see and meet this dutiful dog walking the streets of Truckee and attending community events. Kids of all ages will be encouraged to pet and take photos of our furry friend – feel free to post your photos here on Facebook! To continue that partnership with the community, TPCA will support the Truckee Police Canine Unit in offering public education opportunities. The goal of public education presentations and demonstrations is to prevent drug abuse by educating youth and parents alike to recognize and avoid drug abuse. These programs will include presentations highlighting the canine’s abilities and information regarding the dangers of drug abuse including drug and paraphernalia identification, drug effects on the body, drug culture and behavior indicators, personal and legal consequences, and available resources. These presentations will be made available for groups such as schools and organizations and also will be made available for private in-home consultations. Although education is the preferred avenue of preventing drug abuse, TPCA also exists to support and encourage the enforcement of laws for those who threaten our community through the use, transportation, and sales of illicit drugs. Recognizing the dangers associated with illicit drug trafficking, the Truckee Police Department’s new canine cop will come equipped with a nose for drugs – literally! He or she will be trained to detect contraband substances and alert the police officer handler to their presence. This is a widely used and accepted traditional law enforcement tool that has proven very effective for many agencies. TPCA is excited about the increased abilities to prevent future drug abuse in our community through canine enhanced enforcement. Fortunately, police canines make great employees – they are full of energy, work hard, never complain, make you smile, and are relatively inexpensive service members. However, that doesn’t mean they are free. Police canine units require extensive continuous training, specialized equipment, and veterinary medical care to maintain peak performance. Additionally, a police canine’s years of service warrant continued care in retirement and honorable death benefits. TPCA exists to support all of these needs and will be accepting donations in the future upon establishing 501(c)(3) status.