The department seeks donations to help get Officer Jax on patrol.
Mansfield Township police are looking for some help to get their newest officer out patrolling.
As a K-9 officer, Jax could help Mansfield Township police and other area departments with a number of tasks, from drug enforcement to finding missing people. (Courtesy photo)Jax, a 9-month-old Dutch shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix, and human partner Patrolman Greg Zytko will train to become the township's first K-9 unit, and fundraisers are underway to help cover the cost.
The township is partially funding the program, and the department has set up a GoFundMe online donation drive, is selling T-shirts and scheduling fundraising events around the area.
Jax was purchased from Progressive K-9 Academy in Walnutport, Zytko said, and the plan is for them to begin formal training there at the end of February. The goal is to have an active K-9 unit in Mansfield by the end of April, he said.
The start-up costs total about $15,000, Zytko said -- that includes training for the dog and handler, installing a cage in a patrol vehicle, and procuring a dog harness and other equipment.
Ongoing annual costs are expected to be far less thanks to donations, he said. They will also be defrayed by drug busts -- including the seizure of drug-related money -- in which the K-9 assists.
It's not unusual for smaller departments to solicit donations, especially when getting the K-9 unit started up, said Michael Johnson, president of the American Police Canine Association.
"They are expensive programs to run," Johnson said. "At the end of the day, it's going toward protecting and serving the community."
Zytko said the K-9 has a variety of uses, and that he and Jax will be available to help other departments when needed.
"The police canine will be used for many reasons; the most common is for tracking of missing persons, criminal suspects, and the detection of drugs," Zytko said. "Police canines have been credited with locating missing people who suffer from Alzheimer's and dementia, missing and abducted children, and criminal suspects who are in hiding.
"With many lives affected by the heroin epidemic in New Jersey and Warren County, we would use a K-9 unit to help stop the flow of illegal narcotics in our community," he said.
Zytko credited some area businesses with stepping up to help -- Spring Mills Veterinary Hospital in Holland Township is offering care, and Tickners in Hackettstown is offering dog food, he said. Others are donating directly or hosting fundraising events.
"We appreciate any assistance the public is able to provide," Zytko said.
Johnson, with the police canine association, said the K-9 unit and its abilities will be an asset to the community.
"They can do it all. They do do it all," he said.
We would like to thank everyone for their donations thus far. We are well on our way to our goal and can't wait to...
Posted by Mansfield Township Police Department on Thursday, November 26, 2015
HOW TO HELP
Online: Visit the department's GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/MansfieldPoliceK9.
T-shirt sale: The department is selling K-9 supporter T-shirts for $15 and is accepting cash or checks. Checks should be made out to the Township of Mansfield with "K-9 Unit" in the memo line and sent to:
Mansfield Township Police Department
100 Port Murray Road
Port Murray, NJ 07840
Events: The department is organizing fundraising events. Currently scheduled are:
- Dec. 15 at the Taphouse Grille, 1930 Route 57 in Hackettstown. From 5 to 8 p.m., a portion of proceeds from bills of patrons who mention Mansfield K-9 will be donated.
- Dec. 19 at Wal-Mart, 1885 Route 57 in Hackettstown. T-shirts will be sold from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To find out more: Contact Mansfield Township police Chief Michael Reilly or Patrolman Greg Zytko by calling police headquarters at 908-689-6222, or email Zytko at gzytko@mansfieldtownship-nj.gov.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
