Sonora police getting first K9 in decades, asks public to cast online votes to name it
The public asked for a K9, which the Sonora Police Department plans to deliver.
The department has posted a poll on its Facebook page, asking residents to vote on the name of its newest K9 officer. The poll will close Monday, Feb. 20.
Here are the options listed in the poll:
Leonidas “Leo” — Greek meaning lion, also named after the Spartan king
Jaeger — German meaning hunter
Ridge — Reference to the topography of Sonora and Tuolumne County
Conan — Gaelic meaning wolf or hound, named after the military dog who pursued the ISIS leader
This list was created from suggestions from all employees within the department, Sonora Cpl. Thomas Brickley said. The officer chosen to be the K9 handler picked his favorites from the list. His top picks were put in a poll for the public to make final decisions.
As of Tuesday, about 400 people had voted, Brickley said.
Sonora hasn’t chosen a specific dog yet. The handler and administrator will go to a breeder in the Central Valley to choose a dog with a personality they think will be a good fit with the handler and community, Brickley said. The department is looking for a dog between the ages of 12 and 24 months.
The K9 program is being paid for by Friends of the Sonora Police Department. The dog will have to be presented at a City Council meeting before the department can keep it.
“Since the dog will be a donation to the city, the council will need to accept it formally,” Brickley said.
The Sonora Police Department had a K9 program in the 1980s and mid ’90s but lost it due to a lack of officer interest and funding. Brickley said members of the public asked the department to bring back K9 officers for community outreach events and higher-profile cases. A K9 also will be helpful in cases where officers have to chase suspects on foot, as another way to get suspects into custody, he said.
“The K9 will have a dual-purpose job. They will be trained for apprehension and detection of narcotics,” Brickley said.
This story was originally published February 15, 2023 at 8:50 AM.
