Wright City is getting a new police dog.Money raised from the Red, Wright and Blue Motorcycle festival at Cedar Lake Cellars winery on Saturday, combined with private donations, is enough to purchase the new dog and new equipment. In fact, the department revealed in an announcement on Facebook last week that the new K-9 officer has already been secured.The police department’s current dog, Zeus, is being retired due to health reasons.When State Rep. Bryan Spencer first began organizing the Red, Wright and Blue event early this year to raise funds for the dog, he was hopeful the motorcycle festival could bring in $7,000. Now that the event is over and after associated bills have been paid, Spencer said the total raised is about $17,500 in donations and commitments for new equipment.That’s thanks in large part to a donation from the Ryan Griffin Memorial Foundation. The foundation got in contact with Wright City Police Department after the motorcycle festival was announced and offered to pay for the entire cost of the dog, Police Chief Matt Eskew said.The foundation was established in memory of 20-year-old Ryan Griffin, who died of an accidental drug overdose in 2007, according to the organization’s Facebook page.Eskew said the foundation was interested in supporting a new police K-9 officer to help fight drugs in the area. It provided the $8,000 to purchase the dog.Dogs on Duty, a nonprofit that supports working and service dogs, approached Eskew at the motorcycle festival about potentially purchasing a new K-9 police vest fitted to the dog, he said. Dogs on Duty also provided a vest for Zeus when he was first brought onto the force.The rest of the funds raised through the event will be used for additional K-9 training and equipment. Spencer said fees from vendors prior to the event totaled $4,500, which was donated to the police department in April. Motorcycle registration and other money collected the day of the festival added up to about $5,100, he said.K-9 recruitmentThe police department worked with a former Belleville K-9 handler, Brian Dowdy, to scout for a dog, Eskew said. Dowdy now specializes in training canines, and found a dog that they flew in from the Czech Republic, Eskew explained. The dog is a female Belgian malinois (pronounced mal-in-wah).The next step is for Officer Andy Huston to join the dog for a six-week training course, Eskew said. Huston will be the dog’s handler, and will have to learn to speak commands in Czech.In the meantime, Wright City’s newest officer needs a name. The police department invited community members to send in name ideas and will announce a name soon, Eskew said. The person who submits the name that gets picked will get a chance to meet the K-9 team.Of course, others will have a chance to meet the dog whenever the police department participates in community events.“We wanted a dog that wasn’t overly aggressive, so it could be used for public relations,” Eskew said.On the other hand, the malinois will also have a job to do fighting crime. Eskew said she will be a fully trained police dog, capable of drug detention, apprehending suspects, tracking and locating missing people.As for Zeus? Once he is fully retired, he’ll get to take it easy as the house pet of his handler, Officer Tommy Tomlin.Planning for next yearRep. Spencer said since its inception that he planned to help make Red, Wright and Blue an annual fundraiser for the police department or other city functions. Next year, he plans for the focus to be on purchasing new Kevlar vests for the police department.There weren’t as many participants in the motorcycle show as organizers had hoped. There were just over 150 bikes lined up at the winery to compete in different categories, Spencer said.“I really wanted 300. We were set up for 500,” he said.There were some parts of the event that could have been done better, he added, including some changes in classifications and setup that will be made for next year. The 2018 event will take place sometime between Memorial Day and Mother’s Day, he said.“Next year’s going to be bigger and better, and we’re already excited,” Spencer said.Wright City Police Officer Tommy Tomlin stands with K-9 officer Zeus at the Red, Wright and Blue Motorcycle Fest at Cedar Lake Cellars Aug. 19. Zeus is being retired due to health reasons. Submitted photo/Wright City Police Department.
The Wright City Police Department is buying a new canine officer, pictured here, thanks to funds raised before and during the Red, Wright and Blue Motorcycle Fest this weekend. The department is asking for the public's help to name the new dog. Submitted photo.
Many colorfully painted motorcycles participated in the Red, Wright and Blue Motorcycle Fest at Cedar Lake Cellars Aug. 19. Registration fees for the motorcycle show went toward money raised for a new Wright City police dog. Record photo/Adam Rollins.
