By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News
The Fairbury Police Department is raising funds for a new K-9 Program with events planned to teach residents how a K9 program will help the community.
Chief Mark Travis explained how a K9 will benefit Fairbury and the surrounding area.
“Our main objective with this canine program is narcotics. You don’t have to speak to too many people to find one or someone who has been affected by the opioid epidemic that we’re having in this country. It’s not just happening in large towns, but it’s happening in Pontiac, Fairbury and all over Livingston County, and I believe a canine program can be a deterrent for these dealers and users. Also, the other good of a police canine program is criminal apprehension or ‘little Johnny gets lost in a cornfield’ – he can help track him down. Say an elderly person with dementia wanders away from Fairview Haven. That dog can assist in locating that person. So, there’s a lot of benefits to a police canine program,” Travis explained.
Fundraising is underway with a tentative deadline to bring in the nearly $100,000 goal.
“We’re starting this program from the ground up. Our initial goal is to raise $80,000 to $100,000. Our timeline is when the gentleman is going overseas, he’s picking up a dog for, I believe Bloomington, one for McLean County and one for Dwight. He advised us he could pick up Fairbury’s as well. So, that’s our timeline – April 5, we need to raise this money by. If we don’t have 100 percent of it, that’s ok, but we’d like to have the majority of it to pull the trigger,” Travis said.
A fund matching challenge has been set up with community businesses, as well as a live K-9 Demonstration that is open to the public at Prairie Central High School next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. For more information or to donate, contact the Fairbury Police at 815-692-3347.
