Dana Davis
Orbit Media Reporter
The New Concord Police Department hosted a Town Hall meeting at the New Concord Church of Christ Tuesday, Feb. 19. The meeting addressed the new K-9 program the department is trying to bring to the village.
New Concord Police and Ohio State Highway Patrol officers attended the meeting to discuss their concerns about drugs in New Concord.
New Concord Police Chief Mindy Peck said the concern of drugs is growing New Concord. “We want to be proactive on this subject…we don’t want to be reactive and wait ‘til it’s out of control and we can’t do anything about it,” said Peck.
New Concord Police Chief Mindy Peck presents information about the K-9 program Tuesday, Feb. 19. Residents gathered at the New Concord Church of Christ.
Peck said the program will not raise taxes or come out of the annual village budget. “This program will be funded by annual donations only. We’re not going to raise your [resident] taxes, that’s not what we’re doing. This project will not even happen if we don’t get donations,” said Peck.
The funds will be used for training of the K-9, its human officer, transportation, and veterinarian needs. We Lov Pets in Zanesville has offered to donate all dog food for the K-9 program.
The new K-9 will serve a single purpose of narcotics detection during traffic stops. The K-9 will not be used as an apprehension dog.
Training for the K-9 is estimated to last between four-to-six weeks with both the dog and human officer training eight hours every day. Officer Jeff Traub has been selected to train with the new K-9.
Officers also shared concerns during the meeting about drug-related traffic stops they have made in town. Due to Route 40 and State Route 83 running through New Concord along with Interstate 70 running alongside the village, there is a higher chance of drug traffic.
Area residents attend the K-9 Town Hall forum on Feb. 19. The New Concord Police Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol presented information and answered questions.
Peck addressed a common misconception about where drugs are originating. “A lot of people we hear in town [are saying] that a lot of our drug cases are probably the university students. That is the furthest thing from the truth,” said Peck.
One issue with NCPD not currently having their own K-9 is the department is forced to rely on other counties and departments for assistance with drug-related stops.
“We’re timed on our stops. When I normally make a stop, ten to fifteen minutes, max twenty, I can’t legally hold someone there to wait for a dog,” said New Concord Police Officer Joe Goulet.
The new K-9, along with assisting with traffic stops, will also be available to local schools and Muskingum University if a drug search is needed.
Watch the Town Hall meeting on Orbit TV 1020 at 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. through Feb. 28. The full meeting is also available on YouTube.
K-9-specific fundraisers will be forthcoming. To donate or to ask questions about the program, contact Village Hall at (740) 826-7671.
