Lee County’s Opioid Committee approved a series of funding requests from a few local entities. The committee approved a request from the Keokuk Police Department for a one-time payment of $31,000 to help fund a new K9. Explaining that their K9 unit “is funded solely through either grants or community donations,” Keokuk Police Chief Zeth Baum next told the committee, “we were preparing to get a new K9 this fall.”
“Our previous K9 was going to be retired in late July or early August,” Baum said. “Unfortunately, he came down with cancer and had to be put down in June.
“So right now, we have not had an active K9 since the day of his death.”
Baum said the money would help to pay for a new K9, and allow other funds the Keokuk Police Department has raised for the K9 program to be used for any future medical issues with the new dog or help cover expenses to replace the next K9 after it retires in approximately 6-8 years.
