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Cadiz council approves new K-9 unit

Cadiz police Lt. Ron Carter addresses Cadiz Village Council on the importance of having a K-9 unit.

CADIZ – The Cadiz Police Department will be getting a new K-9, thanks to the efforts of one officer.

Lt. Ron Carter of the Cadiz Police Department reminded council Thursday evening of being told if he found the money for a K-9 unit that would not cost the village any money, he could move forward with the plan. And he did.

Carter told council that he received a donation offer from MarkWest Energy for $10,000 and another from Encino Energy for an additional $12,500. Carter later said this covers the total cost for operating a K-9 unit.

Cadiz police had a K-9 unit several years ago, but when the officer who was trained with the dog left the department, it was discontinued.

Carter said the idea to bring it back came after stopping an individual he knew to be “bringing narcotics into our village” but that he could not lawfully search the vehicle because he had no K-9 unit. After that, Chief Ryan McCann gave him the thumbs-up to get the ball rolling for a new unit.

“They have generously agreed and think there was a need for a K-9 and they’ve donated $10,000 to the village of Cadiz for a K-9 program,” Carter said of MarkWest Energy. “And Encino Energy, she was very adamant, the support of a K-9 and Encino Energy would donate $12,500 to the village of Cadiz for a police K-9 program.”

Carter said the K-9 would be purchased through Tri-State Canine Services LLC out of Warren, Ohio. The cost comes to $14,500 of the $22,500 being donated. The remainder of the money would be used for outfitting a cruiser with a K-9 cage and other accessories.

Carter said he would be willing to be the officer to work with the K-9, as he has done it before and pulled in over 300 drug arrests. He also noted a time when the K-9 alerted him to a man coming from behind him with a knife during another traffic stop.

“It’s no sercret. If somebody’s got drugs in their car, they’re not giving police consent to search their car,” Carter said. “So how do you combat it? You can’t. You’re pretty much inviting narcotics into your community if you don’t have a way to combat it.”

He said food for the K-9 could be received from We Lov Pets out of New Philadelphia, Ohio, as well. But he said he would provide dog food in case an arrangement with a provider fell through. Carter said he was told by Tri-State Canine that Cadiz would more than likely qualify for a $75,000 grant.

“That would go into the police K-9 fund for anything the dog might need, vet bills, etcetera,” Carter said.

Mayor John Migliori said he was initially against the idea but has now changed his mind because of the effort Carter put in, as well as it not costing the village money.

“At first I was against it, but I’m open-minded enough to listen to what you have to say and I admire your perseverance for it,” Migliori said. “And if you get what you say you do and can do, and not cost this village anything, then I don’t know how any of us could be against that.”

Carter did ask the village for $250 per year for “vet bills” until the police department receives the grant, which he said he’d previously discussed with Migliori. Councilman Eric Miller said he agreed with Migliori and that it was a necessity for the K-9 unit. The motion was passed unanimously by council members Miller, John Vermillion, Sal Deluca, Albert Peters, Derek Sefsick and Billy Hyde.

Also passed unanimously was an amendment to a police ordinance adjusting wages to take effect Jan. 1, 2023. McCann would be moved to $25 per hour up from $23 per hour; Carter from $20 up to $23; and four other officers to $19.50 per hour up from $16.50.

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