Novato's two police dogs slated to be cut from city budget

Contra Costa Times

February 11, 2010

By Brent  Ainsworth

Officially, Novato projects to cut its city staff by 39 positions over the next two years if budget-reducing recommendations are approved next month. But that number jumps to 41 if the scope is broadened to include every living being.

At risk are the police department's two dogs, Ingo and Kito, the last two "canine units" on patrol in Marin County.

The Marin County Sheriff's Office has two dogs, one that specializes in explosives and one in training for narcotics detection, but no dogs that are used on regular law enforcement patrols. Canine programs in other Marin cities have been phased out.

In Novato, the cost savings is expected to be $16,000 a year, plus $32,000 with the elimination of a dog replacement fund. The largest portion of the annual cost goes toward monthly training sessions with a specialist from Southern California.

The City Council will vote in mid-March whether to accept a long list of proposed cuts compiled by City Manager Michael Frank and his staff based on recommendations from department heads and feedback from the public. The goal is to balance a budget that is projected to have a $5 million deficit for the next five years unless radical changes are made.

Ingo, a 3-year-old German shepherd, is handled - and lives with - Officer Mike Braun. They work closely with Officer Kevin Naugle and his dog, Kito. They are overseen by Lt. Rich Hill, a former canine officer.

"It was kind of jaw-dropping when we heard about it," Hill said of the proposal.

"We're the only agency left in Marin with dogs, although that's not necessarily a reason to keep the program. We do assist other agencies with major incidents."

Chief Joseph Kreins has told the City Council and Frank that he does not recommend cutting the canine program. "This is one reduction scenario where the city manager and I very much disagree, and we have discussed the issue in detail," Kreins said.

Frank has said all departments must share the budget burden and that no service, program or position should be untouchable.

Marin County Sheriff Robert Doyle said it's been at least seven years since canine units were used with deputies on regular patrols.

"We had to make a decision about our priorities, and they are not cheap," he said. "A lot of cost analysis was done before we made the decision. It was a pretty popular program and obviously it has value for things like searches and crowd control."

Texas resident Terry Anderson is president of the National Police Canine Association. He said dogs are an integral part of law enforcement, and he believes a lack of education on the part of city administration can lead to canine program cuts.

"It is a very sad situation that is becoming all to common," Anderson said. "In this difficult and unstable climate, it is hard to imagine that this country's first line of defense is being downgraded and reduced."

Novato's canine safety program was established in 1996 and has gone through five dogs, all German shepherds born and trained in Europe. Only about three out of 100 dogs chosen for police training make the cut, Braun said.

The working life of a police dog is eight to 10 years, Hill said. Kito has about 12 to 18 months to go and Ingo has at least six or seven more years left. They receive free health care from the Marin Humane Society, which cuts down on the police department's expenses. The money for the vet care comes from donations to the society's K9 Care Fund.

The officers are quick to list instances when the dogs prevented a touchy situation from turning worse.

Naugle remembers a teen dance at the Margaret Todd Senior Center that resulted in a street fight and a crowd that refused to disperse. With Kito fanning out in a 15-foot radius on his leash, the rowdy teens got the message.

"There were known gang members there, and they wanted no part of the dog," Naugle said. "To watch that is a thing of beauty."

Only once has Kito sunk his teeth into a perpetrator. It was last year when suspects who abandoned a stolen car started jumping fences and hiding in a residential area. One person hid under a car and wouldn't come out, so Kito "convinced" him.

Braun remembers an intoxicated parolee who violated a restraining order against his wife and hid in her attic with a shotgun. Ingo was lifted up into the attic and bit the man. "It's safer for us to do that than put an officer in harm's way," Braun said.

There have been countless other times that a few barks by the dog will lead a suspect to surrender. Whenever Naugle or Braun leaves his vehicle, his dog barks. It comes in handy when assisting other officers on traffic stops, they said.

"That's one thing that cannot be replaced by another officer," Naugle said.

It is unknown what will happen to the dogs if the canine unit is disbanded. Naugle, in his seventh year with Novato police, has handled Kito for about 4 1/2 years. The dog lives with his family in Santa Rosa and they are all "phenomenally bonded."

"He is able to separate home life from work life in a smooth transition," Naugle said. "It's amazing to see."

Growing up in Southern California, Braun longed to become a police officer and was inspired by an older brother who handled a scout dog while stationed in Vietnam with the U.S. Army.

"This is a life-long dream for me to become a canine officer," said Braun, who has been with Novato police for nine years. "Being a handler is just incredible. We are on-call 24-7 and eager to respond."

On the prospect of losing Ingo, Braun said, "It's killing me. I know an officer from Fairfax who lost her dog, and the dog ended up dying. I wouldn't be able to tell you how devastating it would be to have him taken away. It would truly be like losing a family member."

Read more Novato stories at the IJ's Novato section.

Contact Brent Ainsworth via e-mail at bainsworth@marinij.com