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Donations let Iowa police officer keep his police dog

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September 9th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Anonymous donors paid $4,000 to the Waterloo Police Department so an officer can keep a police dog after he leaves the force due to health reasons. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the Waterloo City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to give officer Tyler Brownell ownership of K-9 Jason, a Belgian Malinois who’s been with the police force since 2014.

Police Chief Dan Trelka says the city typically donates dogs to their handlers at the end of a dog’s service. However, Jason was only halfway through his career and had an estimated value of $4,000.

Trelka says that while Brownell had offered to give the department’s K-9 program $4,000, two donors privately contributed the money. Jason will now act as a service dog for Brownell.