The Haines Borough Assembly will be asked to revisit its spring decision not to seek funding or research the efficacy of a drug-sniffing dog for the Haines Police Department.

A petition seeking the reconsideration is now being circulated, and about 50 residents from various segments of the community have signed, said organizer JoAnn Ross Cunningham. “We believe that for search and rescue purposes and for potential drug sniffing it would benefit our community,” Ross Cunningham said. “There are already some grants that we know about. The expense would be very minimal and the benefit would be high.”

In her discussions with interested residents, Ross Cunningham said there is a likelihood that one or more private donors would fund the purchase of the dog and other costs associated with the acquisition of the animal. Greg Podsiki and Melissa Ganey are also organizers who are working with police sergeant Josh Dryden to research what it would take to bring such a dog to town.

Dryden, who has researched the cost, training requirements and other needs associated with the dog, said the Alaska State Troopers would pay for training the animal and its handler, who would be a member of the Haines Police department. “Once the dog is selected, AST is going to be helping us through their canine program,” Dryden said. “We will be going to their training. It’s an eight- to 10-week training course.”

An untrained dog costs between $6,000 to $9,000 Dryden said. The police department would need to outfit a police car with canine equipment at a cost of between $4,000 to $6,000. If private residents fund those initial costs, the borough would need to budget about $1,500 a year for food, veterinary care and other upkeep costs, Dryden said.

Dryden said a police dog would allow police to obtain probable cause for search warrants for individuals suspected of bringing drugs into Haines through the ferry, border and airport. “I think just having the dog, people knowing there is a drug dog is a big deterrent,” Dryden said. “It’s just another tool we can use to deter and detect and enforce the drug laws.”

Dryden said the dog would be trained to detect heroin and methamphetamine, but not marijuana.

According to the Alaska State Troopers 2017 annual drug report, of the 37,231 grams of heroin seized by law enforcement statewide that year, police dogs were responsible for locating 7,824 grams. Of the 100,190 grams of methamphetamine found across the state by police, drug-sniffing dogs were found 17,766 grams.

When it considered a police dog in May, most of the assembly members cited concerns about the cost of the dog. Assembly member Tom Morphet said although he questions the efficacy of a police dog, and whether or not it’s appropriate for a small town, he wouldn’t oppose the purchase if it was funded privately.

“If that is true, if somebody else wants to pay for the whole thing, then sure, I’ve got no problem with it,” Morphet said. “Most people in Haines, to encounter a drug sniffing dog at the ferry or the airport, would find that overkill, over the top and intrusive, quite frankly.”

Assembly member Will Prisciandaro, who wasn’t on the assembly when it last considered the matter, said he’d support a proposal that outlined concrete costs associated with the animal.

“I want to see how much it would cost residents of Haines before I’d agree to it,” Prisciandaro said.

Assembly member Stephanie Scott said she’s open to the idea. “In order to authorize the activity, I need the information and I need it in writing,” Scott said. “I’m sure they’ll provide it.”

Dryden wrote a 14-page proposed canine program report that organizers plan to submit to borough manager Debra Schnabel sometime next week.

Schnabel said she’s heard from several residents who asked the borough to reconsider the police dog despite the assembly voting against the proposal. She encouraged residents to do the work themselves, and bring a proposal back to borough staff and officials.

“As a manager, it’s not my job to keep a door closed,” Schnabel said. “If the community wants a public discussion, then I need to manage that and introduce it to the assembly and say there’s enough interest in this issue that I feel comfortable bringing it forward.”