Serving the High Plains

Tucumcari police to lease K-9 from Crimestoppers

QCS Staff

The Tucumcari City Police will obtain another police dog to help with drug searches and in searches for fugitives and missing persons as a result of an agreement approved Thursday by the Tucumcari City Commission.

Under the agreement, Tucumcari Crimestoppers will purchase the animal for about $8,500, which includes training costs, and lease it to Tucumcari Police for $1 a year.

Tucumcari Police Chief Jason Braziel said the contract assigns responsibility to police department for upkeep of the dog once the lease is executed. He said the terms of the lease would be for 10 years at $1 per year, renewable each year.

Braziel said currently the department has a narcotics dog named Toro whose original handler, former Cpl. Dennis Garcia, has left the department to join the Quay County Sheriff’s Office as chief deputy.

Toro has been with the department for eight years and has begun to show signs of arthritis, Braziel said. The dog has also become attached to Garcia, and Braziel said he thinks it is best to let Toro retire and stay with Garcia.

Officer Tyler Marney will be the new dog’s handler, Braziel said.

Marney said the arrangement with Crimestoppers will be less costly than the department’s original plan to purchase a dog and have it trained in Louisiana. The new dog will be prepared for duty by narcotics dog trainer in Albuquerque who has worked with law enforcement agencies in the past and has strong reviews and recommendations.

Marney said the dog will be trained in narcotics detection and non-aggressive searching, which will help in tracking suspects who flee and in searches for missing children and adults.