Officers Funari and Toth and their dogs completed their training and were officially sworn in on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Ptl. Dudas completed his training on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. Read about the unit on page 5
K-9 Timmy and Ptl. JP Toth during a demonstration
Ptl. JP Toth and K-9 Timmy
K-9 Cash and a civilian dog
K-9 Unit patrol vehicle
K-9 Timmy doing his job
K-9 Vince
2017 Funari
In 2018, the unit was deployed 265 times. 182 were for Community Relations activities, including increased presence in schools and high density areas such as Crocker Park. The Enforcement activities include 23 mutual aid requests for other agencies, 50 sniffs, 16 area searches, and 6 force protection. Force protection, while low in number, is significant for reducing the need for officer involved use of force and encouraging surrender of dangerous suspects, reducing the risk of injury to both. 34 times the deployment of the K-9 directly led to arrests/citable offenses.
The Westlake Kiwanis' Westlake Kiwanis Youth Foundation Inc. started a Canine Fund in late 2016 that raised approximately $36,000 for the acquisition, training, and deployment of the unit in 2017.
The Westlake Kiwanis is continuing to accept donations for the ongoing expenses of the unit. Please make your check payable to Westlake Kiwanis, note on or with the check "Canine Fund," and mail to:
Westlake Kiwanis
25935 Detroit Rd., Box 179
Westlake, OH 44145