City Spotlight: Sweet Home Police Department K9 Program

This past week, Jamie Eriksen of Country Financial presented Police Officer Sasha McDonald and the Sweet Home Police Department a $1,500 check to support our canine program. This donation came with a challenge to the community to raise $10,000 this summer.

As a result of statewide restrictions to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Cascade K9 Jamboree, a fund-raising event for the canine program, is canceled this year.
 
"Although the fundraiser has been canceled, the program still needs funds to function," Eriksen shared. "This year's fund-raising goal is $10,000. I would love to see this goal reached or even passed. I am challenging the community to give to the program also."

"Number one, obviously, the Police Department is very important to the community. Sweet Home is the community I want my daughter, who is 10, to grow up in. I believe if I invest in the community now, my daughter will have a wonderful place to grow up in."

The donation will help cover the cost of training and emergency veterinary expenses, McDonald said. McDonald and her drug detection dog, Gemma, a 7-year-old Belgian Malinois, attend two training conferences each year, and she is interested in taking Gemma to additional out-of-state training.

Canine units are required to take maintenance training throughout their careers, McDonald stated. At training conferences, the handlers learn training techniques, while the dogs receive comprehensive training they otherwise would not gain.

At a conference last year, McDonald and Gemma were able to train with a "trap car," a vehicle used to transport narcotics illegally, McDonald shared. The training goes beyond the dogs, with classes covering a variety of related topics, like continually changing case law.

McDonald said the out-of-state training provides additional quality instruction and access to trainers who have more than 20 years of experience. They can help "problem-solve" different training issues.
McDonald and Gemma have been working in Sweet Home together since 2017. Since then, McDonald said, Gemma has been crucial in solving a variety of crimes.

In April and May alone, Gemma assisted in the detection of 13 grams of methamphetamine, 27 grams of heroin, ecstasy, acid, fentanyl pills, drug paraphernalia, a handgun and approximately $1,500 in cash.

"Whenever we seize drugs, additional things are going with it," McDonald revealed. "We've recovered stolen property and returned it to the owners. There are always additional crimes beyond the possession of narcotics. We're detecting evidence of other crimes: fraud, identity theft, stolen firearms, felons in possession of firearms, theft."

Working with Gemma is a natural fit for Officer McDonald, she said. "I like dogs. I grew up with dogs. I enjoy working dogs. They're a special kind of animal. It's a great feeling when you start a dog, train a dog yourself. You prepared it to do a specific task, and you watch your hundreds of hours of hard work as a team make the community better and make a difference in the city.

"I enjoy working dogs and watching them do the job. They live for work. They love to go to work. It's fun to see them, and they're the cheapest labor you can get. They're happy with a toy, a belly rub, and a scratch."
Working with a dog combines things she's passionate about, her work – protecting the citizens of Sweet Home and their property, while solving problems and improving the quality of life in Sweet Home – and her dog, McDonald shared. "Who else gets to take a family member to work every day?"

Numerous local businesses have supported McDonald and Gemma through direct donations of feed, services, cash, and merchandise for auctions at the Cascade K9 Jamboree. Among them are The Point Restaurant, Coffee Hut, Sweet Home RV Center, Hoy's Hardware, Wilco, Thriftway, and Sweet Home Veterinary Hospital.

Anyone who wishes to donate to the program may contact Officer Sasha McDonald or Community Services Officer Sean Morgan at Sweet Home Police Department, 1950 Main St., or (541) 367-5181.