Donor Pledges $2,500 in Matching Funds to RPD K-9 Unit

A fundraiser to support the Redlands Police Department’s Narcotics K-9 Unit will be held during the month of August at The Taco Shack located at 510 E. State Street in Redlands, culminating with Redlands Chief of Police Mark A. Garcia volunteering as a chew toy for a police dog during a noon event at the restaurant on Aug. 30. From Aug. 11 through Aug. 30, Taco Shack customers can donate to the K-9 program and will be recognized with their name on the walls of the restaurant. In addition to the Taco Shack, major sponsors include Toyota of Redlands and Furry Face. An anonymous donor has pledged to match up to $2,500 in donations toward the Redlands Police Department’s Narcotics K-9 unit. A fundraiser to support the unit is currently being held until the end of August at The Taco Shack, 510 E. State St. culminating with Redlands Chief of Police Mark A. Garcia volunteering as a chew toy for a police dog during a noon event at the restaurant on Aug. 30. The donor, who did not wish to be identified, contacted City officials pledging to donate up to $2,500 to the police program to match $2,500 in additional donations. Beginning at noon on Aug. 30 the public is invited to attend a fundraising event with music, raffles and prizes. During the event, Chief Garcia will participate in a police canine demonstration as a patrol dog sinks his teeth into his duties. The event will raise money for the department’s narcotics K-9 program, including support for the current canine, Chewy, a 3-year-old German Shepherd. In December 2008, the Redlands Police Department began its drug-sniffing canine program with Radar, a black Labrador mix, and his handler, Redlands Police Officer Dan Figgins, using only private donations. In 2012, Radar retired as a working police canine and the department acquired a trained 3-year-old chocolate Labrador named Kass, who worked with his partner Officer Patrick Estrada. Last year, due to health problems, Kass was retired from duty. He still lives with Officer Estrada and his family. In December 2013, the department received Chewy, who has been fully trained as a narcotics odor detection dog and works with Officer Estrada. Redlands Police narcotics officers frequently call on the department canine and also make him available to other local agencies. Between 2008 and 2013, Radar and Kass, the department’s first two narcotics canines, helped in the interdiction and recovery of more than 50 kilos of methamphetamine, 20 kilos of cocaine, hundreds of pounds of marijuana and hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug-related money. Since December, Chewy has been responsible for the seizure of more than 200 pounds of marijuana, 2.5 pounds of cocaine, several pounds of heroin and methamphetamine and an additional hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit narcotics proceeds. Chewy also provides regular service to local schools through a contract with the Redlands Unified School District. Since 2008, the ongoing training, food, medical costs, lodging and grooming for the department’s canines have been supported entirely by private donations with no cost to the city’s General Fund. The Redlands Police Department also accepts direct donations to the canine program. Contact your tax professional to determine if your donation is tax deductible. Donations may be made out to the City of Redlands, attention Police Canine Fund, tax ID number 95-6000766. For further information, contact Patrick Estrada at (909) 647-7872.