Elks Lodge Makes Donation to Police
The Parsons Police Department recently received a generous $5,000.00 donation from the Parsons ELKS Lodge #527 in support of a K-9 program.
The Parsons Police Department is currently preparing to debut a K-9 program later in 2021. The Parsons K-9 will be a multi-function K-9 that is specialized in Drug Detection and Tracking. The donation from the Elks will supplement the $5,000.00 donation from Tom Davis Chevrolet that was previously received.
Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks said, "This is a great partnership between the Elks Lodge and Tom Davis Chevrolet with the Parsons Police Department to help the Parsons community get a tracking and drug dog to keep our streets safe. This purchase will also benefit our Kansas Combined Anti-Drug Taskforce (K-CAT). This donation is especially near and dear to my heart because I have been a member of the Elks Club for 38 years. The Parsons Elks Lodge is showing its commitment to the community in preventing illegal drugs in Parsons. it is that commitment that really humbles me and our agency."
Tom Davis, of the Tom Davis Auto Group, has been a cheerleader and advocate of starting a K-9 Program as the Parsons Police Department for the past few years. He was the first business leader in town to make the initial $5,000.00 donation. Tom Davis has previously committed to a 2nd donation of $5,000.00 in the future.
The Parsons Elks Lodge has now added $5,000.00 to the goal of $20,000.00. The purchase of a certified K-9 and the training for the dog handler is roughly $15,000.00 plus the associated equipment. The police department will have to acquire and outfit a K-9 patrol unit too.
"We hope to acquire our K-9 and train the handler later in 2021 so that before year's end we will have the K-9 unit working the street," said Deputy Chief Dennis Dodd.
The money is being set aside as a building block for the purchase, training, housing, and medical needs that come with a police K-9 program that will become a member of this department and the community.
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