The Valparaiso Police Department teamed up with Horizon Bank on Friday, June 7th, 2013 for a special K-9 Demonstration Day to celebrate Horizon's donation of $2,500 to VPD’s K-9 Unit.
Valparaiso Police Officer Joe Hall was on hand with his K-9 Femmy to show off how the K-9s are trained and how they are able to search for drugs. The demonstrations, open to Horizon customers and the public alike, drew dozens to the Lincolnway branch to see Officer Hall and Femmy do their thing.
The idea for the donation and demonstration day came to Eric Beschinski, business banker at Horizon Bank, after VPD Officer Tood Kobitz spoke to the Valparaiso Kiwanis Club about the K-9 unit and the value it brings to the Valpo police and community alike.
“It was one of those things where I thought we could bring a little publicity and awareness to the program,” explained Beschinski. “I called our corporate office to see what we could contribute to the K-9 program and make a nice event out of it.”
He continued, “The costs of running the program are certainly significant, so I’m glad we are doing what we can to help out.”
Officer Hall has been with Femmy since she came into the program in 2010. The Scandinavian-born Femmy has been trained well since she was a puppy to assist in fighting crime, as the K-9 has over 75 arrests on her record already.
“Horizon invited us to come into their business to help with some fundraising efforts we are doing,” explained Officer Hall. “This will certainly help us in maintaining what we’re doing and hopefully grow in the near future.
The donation will go to the Valparaiso Police Department K-9 Unit’s general maintenance fund, explained Officer Hall. “The donation goes straight back into the program, as far as maintaining what we have as a program, training, caring for the animals, anything that we need as far as equipment goes.”
The Valparaiso Police Department is always open for donations to the K-9 Unit. For more information to donate, visit the Valparaiso Police Department’s website.