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ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ALDERS OF THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF POLICE SERVICE TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE NATIONAL POLICE DOG FOUNDATION FOR A GRANT TO PURCHASE A HEAT ALARM FOR A K9 VEHICLE AND TO ACCEPT SUCH FUNDS, IF OFFERED, AND TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS AND CONTRACTS AS NECESSARY.
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WHEREAS, the City of New Haven through its Department of Police Service (NHPD) seeks to promote community policing strategies that maintain public safety and support; and
WHEREAS, NHPD has a K9 Unit currently consisting of seven dual purpose dogs, German Shepherds and Shepherd/Malinois crosses, to assist with patrol and drug detection and two bomb dogs, Labrador Retrievers, to assist officers with detection of explosives; and
WHEREAS, K9 handlers must sometimes leave their K9 unattended in the vehicle while conducting an investigation outside the vehicle; and
WHEREAS, in the summer months, with temperatures in the 90s with high humidity, the interiors of police vehicles become extremely hot, requiring K9 handlers to run the air conditioner. If the air conditioner breaks down, the vehicle quickly overheats, risking the health of the K9; and
WHEREAS, heat exhaustion is a major cause of death for active K9s; and
WHEREAS, heat alarms provide safety and security for a K9 by automatically activating the vehicle’s siren and light bar--thus notifying the handler to return to the car--and rolling down the back windows. They also come with dual sensors to average the heat in the vehicle, hot and cold alerts, and can be coupled with automatic door openers for a quick release of the K9; and
WHEREAS, one of our K9 vehicles would benefit from the addition of a heat alarm; and
WHEREAS, NHPD is eligible to apply for funds from the National Police Foundation to purchase a heat alarm for a K9 vehicle; and
WHEREAS, the K9 Unit has a general fund budget allocation that supports its basic needs, but which is stretched due to inflation and can fluctuate significantly from year to year depending on the health of the K9s; and
WHEREAS, the NHPD requires additional funding to better support program activities; and
WHEREAS, the NHPD will be grateful to receive a grant to purchase a heat alarm; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDERED THAT the Board of Alders of the City of New Haven supports resources that assist and benefit NHPD personnel and maintain public safety; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED THAT the Board of Alders of the City of New Haven authorizes the NHPD to submit a grant for funding to purchase a heat alarm and to accept such funds, if offered, and to execute all documents and contracts as necessary.