In its ongoing mission to protect and serve the community, the Keyser Police Department is seeking public support for a K-9 unit to augment the regular police force.
The canine recruit is named Arko, a breed known as a Belgian Malinois that is similar in appearance to a German Shepherd, and is bred for personal security and police work. Among the organizations that use the dog are the U.S. Secret Service and the Israeli Defense Forces.
In Keyser, Arko would be used in a variety of crime-fighting roles, including patrol, tracking and narcotics detection.
Unfortunately, the current police department budget does not provide adequate funding for a canine unit. In addition to purchasing the dog, the department needs to pay for training and kenneling. However, rather than allow this valuable police tool to be victimized by budget constraints, the police department is asking area businesses and individuals to donate money to cover the cost of the canine unit.
We support that effort.
While a public campaign of this sort is somewhat unusual, we applaud the police department, including Officer Jon Hudson and Chief Karen Shoemaker, for spearheading the fund drive. It would be far easier for the department to simply let the canine program await some future year when funding can be found, but the officers genuinely believe that Arko will help them better perform their duties. And that will make Keyser a safer place to live and raise our families.
Of course, your taxes already help fund the police department. However, just as the officers of the Keyser Police Department  every day go above and beyond by pinning on the badge and laying their lives on the line for our protection, Shoemaker is asking Keyser residents to go above and beyond to help fund the program.
To support the canine program, simply write a check to the Keyser Police Department. If you have questions about the program, Shoemaker invites you to call her at 304-788-1311.