The Salem Police Department has a new canine officer and a new canine in training.
Police Chief Kyle Ambuehl says the two should be ready to hit the streets by mid-December.
“Officer Green will be our canine officer and he’s going to attend training at Monmouth Illinois, Cedar Creek Kennels is where we bought the dog and the owners put on training up there.”
New canine ‘Civka’ along with his 10 week training program will cost the city $15,000 which is in this year’s budget.
‘Civca’ is a Belgium Malinois, is almost two years old and is from Ukraine.
Ambuehl says Freddie who was the city’s canine for eight years with handler Dustin Duncan has now retired. Ownership of the dog will be transferred to Duncan who will care for the dog in its retirement years.
