Recreation - Greenwood Village

GOVERNMENT
community
ENSURING A SAFE
FUNDRAISER
WHINE &
KIBBLES TO
BENEFIT
NEW VILLAGE
POLICE DOGS
The Greenwood Village
Police Department and
community members have
formed an organization
known as K-9 Connection to
help the Police Department
re-establish and equip its
canine unit with two police
dogs. The canine team will
bring an added degree of
security and protection to the Village
as they assist police officers in
performing vital law enforcement
tasks.
“The cost of obtaining, training,
equipping, and caring for a police dog
has increased dramatically over the
years, and police dogs have become a
luxury in these economic times,” said
Chief John Jackson. “By the Village
partnering with the community, we
can obtain these valuable police dogs
so that our Police Department can
continue to prevent crime and catch
criminals.”
The first Village K-9 Unit was
established in the 1980s to help fight
crime and protect citizens. Greenwood
Village had the first place team in the
nation during the United States
Canine Association National Field
Trials due to its former K-9 members,
Corporal Walt Clark and Rondo, and
Officer Alden Langert and Sam. In
addition, there have been several K-9s
and handlers over the years to include
Sam Rondo Max
Corporal Tony Corsi and Schnapps,
George Sheers and Jason, Dave Fisher
and Rondo II, Steve Stutz and Patton,
Dave Barta and Smokey, and John
Taylor and Diablo. Over the last
several years, the Village K-9 Unit was
comprised of one dog, Max, who
retired after many years of service due
to medical issues. Max passed away in
2010 and is survived by his handler
and Officer Jeff Mulqueen.
The Village’s K-9 Unit has a long and
proud history of crime fighting in the
community. The canines have helped
track down homicide and robbery
suspects, burglars, and missing
children. They have held records for
seizures of illegal narcotics (850
pounds) and seized over $2.5 million
in drug related property, cars, guns
and cash. The police dogs have been
an invaluable resource not only to the
Village, but also to other communities
who have called for their assistance to
help take a bite out of crime.
The K-9 Connection’s first fundraising
event, Whine & Kibbles, will be on
Wednesday, March 16 from 6-9 p.m.
at Mangia Bevi Café in Greenwood
Village. Tickets are $100 per guest
with sponsorship opportunities also
available. Based on the level of
donation, supporters have the
opportunity to visit with the dogs and
meet their handlers. Community
leader Jamie Angelich and Commander
Dave Fisher are co-chairing the event.
The Police Department is planning on
bringing the two police dogs into
active duty this spring. Officers Jeff
Mulqueen and Bryan Stuebinger will
be assigned as handlers to the Village’s
K-9 Unit. It is estimated that a police
dog will cost the Police Department
up to $20,000 each to obtain and
train.
For more information on K-9
Connection or to donate, please visit
www.gvpdk9.com. Citizens may also
contact Commander Dave Fisher or
Officers Jeff Mulqueen and Bryan
Stuebinger at 303-773-2525. GV
MARCH 2011 |GV NEWSLETTER PG. 9