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Donation enables purchase from NN Sheriff’s Office

WINDSOR

There’s still training to be done, but a 5-year-old Dutch Shepherd named Odin has become a member of the Windsor Police Department.

He’s partnered with his handler, Officer C.J. Griffin. The healthy K-9 is intended for detecting narcotics as well as patrol tracking and apprehension.

Chief R. Riddle said a “very generous donation” enabled WPD to get Odin from the Newport News Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Gabe Morgan. That department also provided a kennel setup.

The K-9 and Griffith were expected to start certification in March, but the arrival of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) interrupted.

The chief told Windsor Weekly, “Once the ban on training is lifted, the team will certify in narcotics detection with the Newport News PD K9 Unit. Then they will attend the Patrol/Apprehension School through the Norfolk Police Department K9 Unit.”

He added that the duo is continuing to train locally by working with the Isle of Wight Sheriff’s Office K9 Units to “keep their basic skills sharp.”

As Riddle explained to the Town Council, “Police K-9 programs are generally very expensive to start up, with most programs costing in excess of $40,000 to purchase and train the K-9 and handler, and then outfitting them with the necessary equipment.”

He emphasized that with the donation of Odin and the kennel — along with the Spikes K-9 Fund contributing the animal’s body armor — the department will have spent less than $7,000 from its own budget for the program’s startup.

“WPD is very excited to have this new officer and his K-9 capabilities at our disposal,” said Riddle.