New Kalamazoo police dogs forging partnerships, picking up the scent
Updated Mar 14, 2021;
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KALAMAZOO, MI Kalamazoo Public Safety officers Max Houtman and Emily Weston both grew up with dogs. Yet before Monday, neither had spent time training one.
The second- and third-year officers spent the bulk of their past work week helping teach their new partners, Sledge and Groot, the tools of the trade they will need to be successful additions to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety.
Houtman, who is partnered up with Sledge, an 18-month-old Dutch shepherd, knew when he got into the police force two years ago, he wanted to work on the K-9 team. While he feels fortunate to get to be involved so early in his career, he knows it’s anything but fun and games.
Photo provided by City of Farmington Hills
Farmington Hills police welcome 10 new officers
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FARMINGTON HILLS If you stop by the Farmington Hills Police Department or get pulled over while out on the road, you may be met with a new face you haven’t seen before.
On Dec. 18, 10 new police officers were sworn into the department.
Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King said the decision to onboard the new class of officers came from preparing for roughly five to six retirements that could take place this year.
“We’ve always been trailing two to three officers behind our authorized staffing levels,” King said, adding that the department’s budgeted staffing level is 106 people. “It was easily established that anywhere from eight to 10 officers would bring us in the area of our full staffing when these pending retirements took place.”