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Lewes Mayor and Council say Police Chief Ronald “Beau” Gooch should have told them about a planned fundraiser held last month that netted more than $16,000 for the purchase of a police dog.
Gooch and Pfc. Brent Layfield, the department’s K-9 handler, appeared before the mayor and council at a Tuesday, Feb. 4 meeting on the 2008-09 fiscal year budget.
City Councilwoman Stephanie Tsantes said she was appalled to learn, after the fact, that an event to raise money to buy a dog for the Lewes Police Department was held at Irish Eyes in Lewes Feb. 21.
“I’m reading more about your department in the newspaper, and I’m blaming the lack of communication on you,” Tsantes told Gooch before he and Layfield explained their thinking and actions related to the successful fundraiser.
“I had nothing to do with the fundraiser,” Gooch told the panel. Gooch said he, just as many others in the community, knew about the fundraiser but he didn’t help to plan or organize it.
Gooch said he had a discussion with Layfield about the best dog breed for the department, but was otherwise not involved in raising funds.
Layfield said the fundraiser ball started rolling after several people offered cash and said they’d help raise additional money for a dog.
Layfield said because people knew of his connection with Iwan, the city’s last police dog, he was compelled to step up, assist and actively participate in the event.
“People were coming out of nowhere to contribute,” Layfield told the panel.
Layfield and Iwan, a Belgian Malinois, worked as a team for five years until the dog’s sudden illness and death in September.
Layfield said he and Iwan were on patrol five days a week and were also present at numerous events such as Lewes’ Night Out, Christmas parades, K-9 ability demonstrations and Cape Henlopen High School sports events.
He said Iwan’s presence at a Cape football game, where potentially serious trouble unfolded, proved very effective.
“One dog moved 200 to 300 people back into the bleachers. A dog is a tool that every department should have,” Layfield said.
Councilwoman Barbara Vaughan said she thought the police department’s lack of communication about the fundraiser “co-opted” the mayor and council’s discussion about a dog, which was particularly troubling because this fiscal year’s budget is tight.
Gooch said if Iwan were still alive, the dog would have remained a city expense. The budget reflects $2,700 in unspent funds for the K-9 unit.
Gooch said he discussed with Mayor Jim Ford pursuing grants or developing some other ways to continue the K-9 program but a plan was not developed.
Tsantes said she was uncomfortable with the lack of information about the dog’s cost, pedigree, training facility credentials, amount of officer training time required and other ongoing costs, such as the need for an appropriate K-9 vehicle.
Tsantes questioned the city’s need for a police dog and asked Gooch and Layfield why the department isn’t obtaining a dog from the same kennel and trainer as that used by the Delaware State Police.
Layfield said dogs purchased by the state police cost about $13,000, must be picked up from a Midwestern kennel and need to undergo additional training to advance beyond basic sit and stay commands.
Dogs at the kennel Layfield has researched are fully trained to sniff out marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine, and are also trained for tracking, evidence searching and apprehension.
He said the Dutch dogs – there are 20 from which to select – have a guaranteed temperament and certified health. But, said Layfield, with an animal, “You’re rolling the dice with life expectancy.”
“I’m getting some of the best training in the world when it comes to K-9s,” he said. Layfield said he’s confident that the dog’s training, and the additional training he would receive in Holland at The K-9 Center – High Security Holland, is well worth $8,800.
He said that amount includes cost of the dog, round-trip travel, ground accommodations, training sessions in Holland and, on return, in Pennsylvania. Layfield said his meals are the only costs not covered.
Councilmen Ted Becker and Victor Letonoff said they, too, would have preferred better communications with the police department, but they support purchase of a dog. Tom Wontorek, city manager, said money raised for the animal would need to come under the city’s control, and any contracts or documentation related to the dog should first be reviewed by the city.
Contact Henry Evans at hevans@capegazette.com
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