Constitutional concerns cause split vote on SPPD K9 purchase

May 18, 2001
Santa Paula News

Santa Paula Times

A bid by the Chief of Police to purchase another K9 became an issue that dogged him at the May 7 City Council meeting when the issue of using dogs on local campuses for drug searches surfaced.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA bid by the Chief of Police to purchase another K9 became an issue that dogged him at the May 7 City Council meeting when the issue of using dogs on local campuses for drug searches surfaced.Chief Bob Gonzales wanted to use $14,000 in asset seizure funds to purchase an additional canine and to cover related costs. Such an expenditure would be the third police dog on the SPPD.Councilwoman Laura Flores Espinosa asked if the money pulled from the total asset seizure fund of about $84,000 could be better utilized: Espinosa said the SPPD is “relying a lot on the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department for supplemental services,” and the SPPD has been using its present K9 force for “unconstitutional searches at elementary schools.The funds would be better used to beef up the department’s manpower or for drug related investigative overtime pay, she added.Chief Gonzales said he seeks to get the “biggest bang for the buck” and that it would not be practical to hire additional personnel using the fund. “We can’t hire as we’d have to fire the officer when the money ran out. . .”Canine dogs are used to replace a second officer and can be the “only way to keep an officer from being hurt.” Dogs receive special drug detection training, he said.The issue of the K9s being used for campus drug searches has been suspended while the district’s Board of Trustees considers the ramifications and legality of searches, Chief Gonzales added.
‘Maybe we should be concentrating on,” major drug trafficking, said Espinosa, but Chief Gonzales noted that the SPPD is not geared to same. “We’ve had cases we’ve stumbled upon and others we’ve developed as we have the expertise, but we don’t have the resources,” for full-scale investigations, which is why many police departments partner with other agencies.Other council members questioned ongoing costs as well as officer dog training schedules.Chief Gonzales noted that K9 Sultan is getting close to retirement and would have to be replaced eventually.Councilman Rick Cook said the issue of dog drug searches is more a “personal issue at the schools instead of a school issue,” and asked about overtime costs.Vice Mayor Ray Luna said he would like the SPPD to be a part of the county drug task force and Mayor Don Johnson noted that the SPPD does work with the special agency on a localized basis.The council approved the K9 purchase on a split 4-1 vote.Espinosa said she voted against the purchase as she did not receive an “assurance that the department will not continue unconstitutional searches,” at Isbell Middle School.“I have a boy at Barbara Webster; I vote yes anyway,” said Luna.



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