Warrensburg’s K-9 Campaign Gets Major Boost

The campaign to buy a new K-9 animal for the Warrensburg Police Department got a major boost Monday night when Old Drum Realty presented a check to Police Chief Rich Lockhart in the amount of $11,600.

Justin Harris and his associates made the presentation at the top of Monday night's City Council meeting, and Chief Lockhart was very pleased with the boost it gave the fund-raising campaign.

“So for March, Old Drum Realty would match every donation that we received up to $5,000,” Chief Lockhart said. “Our goal is $20,000, so more than 50 percent of it with just this one contribution, to tell them thank you really isn't enough. I mean, I was overwhelmed when they told me how much it was, and again we really appreciate the support they give us, and the rest of the community who donated.”

The next step, after the $20,000 goal is reached, is to select a vendor where a dog can be decided upon. The police chief expects that to happen around early to mid-summer. The department's handler, Sgt. Adam Wade, who currently works with “Gunner,” will be trained with a new dog.

Gunner's activity has been limited and is no longer doing day-to-day patrol after being diagnosed with a spinal condition in January. “He's just doing narcotics searches, and we're really dialing him back on that,” Chief Lockhart explained, adding that he will soon become a family pet in his retirement years