In an effort to combat the ever-growing presence of drugs, the Wright City Police Department is looking to add another officer - one with a nose 10,000 times more sensitive than a regular officer. The department is in the beginning stages of a fundraising campaign to purchase a drug dog that will assist officers in drug investigations and apprehending criminals. Police Chief Douglas Saulters said a goal of $15,000 has been set to cover the cost of establishing a K-9 unit. Of that amount, approximately $8,900 will cover the purchase of the dog and four weeks of out-of-state training with the officer who will be assigned to handle the dog. The remaining $6,100 will be for equipment, including outfitting a patrol car. Saulters said letters seeking donations and support from local businesses and organizations will be sent out. "The reason why we need to do this, like a lot of communities, we have a drug problem here," he said. "The guys are stopping people and finding (drugs). They find little amounts, but with a dog, you know you're not missing anything. That dog will pick up the scent." The K-9 dog can also be used in walkthroughs at schools or parking lots in the Wright City R-II School District to detect if drugs are present. Saulters noted that the dog won't only be used in traffic stops or other drug-related activities. The K-9 will be trained to locate lost and missing persons and can be present at different community events as a public relations tool. Other law enforcement agencies in the area have seized approximately $2.2 million worth of drugs, money and assets within the past year, according to Saulters. The money seized can be used to purchase equipment and provide training for the police department, though he pointed out it cannot be used for salaries. With several miles of Interstate 70 running through the middle of the city, Saulters feels a K-9 unit can have a significant impact on catching drug traffickers. "It's something we need to step up and get on board with," said Saulters, who has past experience with a K-9 unit when he was previously the sheriff in St. Charles County. "We're going to get proactive on this drug situation." Anyone interested in donating to the campaign can mail a check to the Wright City Police Department, 203 Veterans Memorial Parkway, Wright City, MO 63390. More information can be obtained by contacting Saulters by phone at 636-745-3541 or e-mailing dsaulters@wrightcity.org.