Curry County Sheriff John Ward accepts a $15,000 donation from Richard and Ruth Wilson for the sheriff's K9 program. | Photo courtesy of the Curry County Sheriff's Office

Curry County Sheriff John Ward says he will put a $15,000 donation from a Brookings couple toward the purchase of another K9 officer.

The donation came from Richard and Ruth Wilson on Wednesday. The Wilsons also provided the donation to get the K9 program started about three years ago.

“I’ve seen those dogs in action, and every place should have a K9 dog,” Wilson told the Wild Rivers Outpost on Thursday, adding that his donation back in 2019 was for roughly $14,000. “I’m really impressed with K9 programs all over, but I (donated) to our community.”

Ward said the donation will be used to add another K9 to his department as well as outfit a car and pay for the six-week training for both the dog and one of his deputies in Chico. He said a good K9 dog costs between $8,000 and $15,000.

“Right now we’re working on trying to build up our staffing so we can have deputies to transition into a K9 deputy,” he said. “This dog will be a single-purpose dog for our protection and for tracking.”

Curry County’s K9s assist deputies in drug cases, apprehension, locating evidence and other criminal cases, Ward posted on Facebook on Thursday. They also provide protection for thier handlers.

In addition to the initial six-week training course, the K9 and their handler undergo weekly training to keep their certifications current, according to Ward.

Wilson said his support of K9 programs stems from a break-in that occurred at his home about 20 years ago.

“The people were still around in the woods,” he said. “(The police) had a K9 program and the dog came right out there and got him. That person lay flat on the ground and wouldn’t move because he knew he would get bit.”

Wilson said he would continue to donate to the K9 program every year.

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