That is sad for 2 hard working K-9's to be let go. May be they can be put on a reserve status....I am sure they will needed again. Suprised they come up with extra funds from somewhere to help them out.

Hmm...$10K for a landfill plan or $4K for two much needed drug dogs. Wait, $100,000 to remove a dam? Is that really needed this year? Why not keep the drug dogs and let some able-bodied people with sledge hammers take out the dam?

frontier, I too am unhappy that we had to lose the support for our two K-9's. Hopefully, in the future, funds will become available to re-instate the program. Meanwhile, Brewer will be calling upon Bangor, Orono, Old Town, the Sheriff's Dept. , and State Police and Warden's for their dogs. Budget times are very tough this time around in Brewer, as elsewhere. However, we were able to maintain a stable tax rate, one of the lowest in Penobscot County. Having cut our mil rate four consecutive years, only to maintain the same this time around.

You mean to tell be that $4000 couldn't be found somewhere in the budget? Unbelievable.

What's the point of having your own dogs when Bangor folks will be paying for a dog or two? People from all around come to Bangor for everything else, why not for some K-9 support? Brewer oughta be proud of their ever declining "mil rate" and ashamed of their continued dependence on tax payers from Bangor. Cheers to Bangor for not caving in to the pressure to cut important services on a "at least we lower our taxes every year" ideal! It makes us Bangorians who provide services to people from Brewer everyday frustrated, but hey... kudos to Brewer's leaders... we're obviously willing to keep doing it!

All departments in Brewer's government had to make sacrificial cuts. And some were painful, and most unfortunate. Frankly, it isn't as if we cannot locate a dog, when needed. We are fortunate in that regards. Also, I think JackJack will find that Bangor will be making some serious cuts also. Everybody is in the same boat, as is the State Government. And of course the federal government is all screwed up.. Larry T. Doughty, South Brewer

Apparently the dogs were impacting somebody's income. They were the only officers who couldn't be bribed to ignore the drug trade.

Why can't the dept. not hold a fundraiser to cover the cost of the dogs? 4k seems pretty reasonable to keep them as the cost of buying and training them as far more.

Good idea if it were not illegal in the State of Maine for Police Officers or Police Departments to solicit funds from the public. Maine law prohibits anyone from soliciting public funds for the benefit of law enforcement. The law is intended to protect the citizens of Maine from coercive and intimidating fundraising that would undermine the relationship between law enforcement and their communities. The one exception is the Maine Vest a Dog Program which successfully had a bill passed in 2001 allowing them to raise funds to provide ballistic vests for police K-9's. Otherwise, it is illegal but is an excellent idea.

So, JD, what would stop some private citizens from holding one, and simply make a donation of the proceeds to the Dept.? That keeps them from being directly involved in any way. 4k is not a lot of money for what these dogs can provide the community.

I agree that 4K is not a lot of money to raise for this program. I know in my town, if something like that were to happen it would go into the "general fund" rather than to the specified department. Here is another thought, some police and fire departments have an "association" which raises funds for different charities, etc...if the donations were made in that way it might work. I am sure that the City Council, if so enclined could accept the funds on "behalf" of the department and funnel it into the specific department.

Maybe JD, thats exactly what they are hoping this article will bring about.

Maybe Brewer should reconsider wasting money on the riverbank trail project! That park won't earn any income for the City or generate any tax revenues! If that park project is completed, they will need MORE law inforcement to prevent vandalism and loitering! The enconomy has changed and its time to admit that the taxpayer's money needs to be applied for the public safety and education, not to build something that will cost more money to maintain and protect.

I rather like the riverbank trail project and I think it's a worthy cause, and adds character and foot traffic to brewer.

It's better than another strip mall of box stores.

Look across the river in bangor at their pier and walking paths / park. I think it has been a benifit to their town, it can be a benifit to brewer as well with their own.

People should be able to congregate in a safe atmosphere, without feeling the need to consume something for the right to spend leisure time there.

Im surprised Home Land Security and their enormous budgets couldnt spare 4 grand to keep the dogs on the payroll. The dogs ultimately help them as well.

River bank trail? Landfill plan? Dam removal? Lets not stop there in our crtique. How about a middle school with a performing arts center? The proposed contract for an art display outside the school far exceeds the canine budget. How about the new public safety building (minus the canines)? The mil rate is down to be sure but hasn't reassement caused actual property tax dollars to increase?

Larryt39 Are you anticipating that these other agencies will provide services for free? have you done a comparison cost analysis to see what is the best route to go? $4,000.00 sounds very cheap to me for having 2 fully trained k-9's at your doorstep anytime you need them.

Hampden1..No, I have not done a comparison cost analysis. Frankly, I was taken aback when I inquired of the Chief of Police as to what we were talking in cost. The medical cost can be quite high with the dogs. As for myself, I would have preferred that the City pay full cost of the k-9's..that would have been considerable more. Hopefully, sometime along the way, we can get back into he k-9 business. Mace and Cierra are very good dogs..However, as written above, there are several animals out there right now, and should be available when needed. We are all hoping for better times ahead. By the way, as for 'other agencies' providing free services, it a mutual issue. Often police departments call upon each other for assistance, dogs, and anything else when needed. Larry T. Doughty, South Brewer

BAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Way to go Brewer Police. Hey Perry, are you going to fund the Prostitute sniffing dogs?

Great News here to report for Brewer's Police K-9 program, which was scheduled for demise on June 30th, due to budget constraints. An anonymous dog lover, has offered to support the present program for at least another year. A check for $3500.00 will be in the mail soon. All good news here..

Check the blog for a little more.. Larry T. Doughty, South Brewer..larrytdoughty@yahoo.com, www.ourstory.com/larrytdoughty