On behalf of the men and women of the Greenwood Village Police Department we want to thank everyone involved in assisting us in our fund raising endeavor with K-9 Connection.
Please continue to watch for news on Facebook as we complete our dog selection process and they make their home in Greenwood Village and progress through training.
We anticipate a "meet the dogs" day in the
summer. More pictures to follow. You made it happen, thanks again to ALL!!
Our K-9 Community Facebook page was launched with the help of key volunteers from 710 KNUS and Airways Communication. You can follow all the news and events there...
Be sure to "Like" our Big Dog Sponsor to help us grow. Through this innovative program, a donation will be made by The Ahbe Group and Progressive Insurance for every fan that gives The Ahbe Group a Like!
Use this link to "like" our Sponsor at TAG, and K-9 Connection will receive $5 for every one!
Please share this news with your friends, it's the easiest way to help K-9 Connection raise money every week. Thanks!
The kickoff event, Whine & Kibbles, is March 16, 2011 at Mangia Bevi Cafe from 6 - 9 p.m. Attendance is limited, so save the date and click here to make your reservations now!
Please consider an item donation or gift certificate for our SilentAuction. We would like to receive your donation no later than March 9, 2011.
We're excited to announce that The Ahbe Group has joined K-9 Connection as our leading Big Dog Sponsor for 2011. They are a top-ranked national provider of business and personal insurance, headquartered in Denver. We've been impressed with their remarkable products from Progressive Insurance and other carriers, and their energetic staff became active participants in fundraising and campaign planning this month.
To help K-9 Connection reach it's goals, The Ahbe Group has launched an innovative Facebook campaign, joining with us in joint efforts to raise money for our cause as we build our community together. This amazing effort could make The Ahbe Group our "Top Dog" Sponsor in a very short time. Please join us in welcoming The Ahbe Group, and visit their Website for a quote today!!
With current commitments we've reached half of our annual goal of $50,000 BEFORE our big event coming up on March 16th. Thanking you is HERO, a “candidate” the police force is “interviewing." Also meet K-9 Officers Bryan Stuebinger and Jeff Mulqueen!
Hero says: Use this link to "like" our title sponsor The Ahbe Group. When you do, K-9 Connection will receive $5 toward our worthy goal! Good Dog!
K-9 Connection is a fundraising effort launched recently by community volunteers, business leaders and the Greenwood Village Police Department.
The kickoff event is set for March 16 at Mangia Bevi Cafe, ticket sales are already robust and it’s likely to be a sellout. Tickets are $100 per guest, make your reservation today!
The goal of the group is to raise funds to privately support and equip a dedicated K-9 unit with 2 dogs. Patrol officers receive training right along with the dogs, and teams are dedicated to vital enforcement tasks in the community. The 2-dog unit will be available to respond quickly in Greenwood Village and surrounding communities.
Check this site weekly for more information about what's happening and how you can get involved in this great cause. Other events running into Summer months will be announced to introduce the community to the new K-9 teams.
Police officials hope the dogs will be on the force by late Spring. "We've been planning how to re-establish our K-9 unit for months now," Lieutenant David Fisher said. "It's coming together quickly, due to the efforts of our experienced patrol officers and a dedicated group of volunteers that have stepped up to organize the fundraising effort. Our new K-9 unit will greatly enhance our capabilities." Officer Jeff Mulqueen is the first K-9 officer to be named to the unit, and a second officer will be selected soon. Fisher pointed out that it is important to get the "right fit" between the dog and its handler in order for the program to be a success.
Donations are being accepted by checks made payable to: City of Greenwood Village K-9 Fund. 6060 South Quebec Street • Greenwood Village, CO 80111-4591
Volunteer organizers flocked to the shooting range this week as part of K-9 Connection, a fundraising effort launched recently by the Greenwood Village Police Department.
To ensure the K-9 unit is privately funded for a successful launch, the volunteer committee assembled several times this past month to recruit community leaders in key roles. As they planned key activities for the next six months, Lieutenant Dave Fisher wanted to help build the team spirit of the group. So a key supporter offered an expert training facility and much needed social time at a local range.
Police officials hope the dogs will be on the force by late Spring. "When it comes to organizing the unit, we have the best officers in the state," Officer Jeff Mulqueen said. "But when it comes to organizing the fundraiser we needed many more diverse experts. We’re so fortunate to have attracted some great people to our cause so early."
Officer Jeff Mulqueen is the first K-9 officer to be named to the unit, and a second officer will be selected soon.
On behalf of the City of Greenwood Village and your Police Department, thank you all for being part of this fundraising endeavor. I know many of you on the steering committee, and some of you I have not had the pleasure of meeting. I especially want to thank Greenwood Village resident Jamie Angelich for her assistance in being the co-chair. She has assembled a great team of residents and volunteers to hold a special event to partner with the Police Department to raise funds to support a new and revitalized K-9 program.
II thought I would attach a picture from about 1987 or 1988 when we had a very impressive K-9 team. We had the first place team in the nation during the United States Canine Association National field trials. I am on the far left with K-9 Rondo II, Officer Alden Langert with his K-9 Sam are in the middle, and retired Corporal Walt Clark and K-9 Rocky are on the left. Rondo II and Rocky were half brothers. Rondo II had litter mates that were employed by Denver, Jefferson County, and one in Philadelphia. K-9 Sam had the first perfect score in obedience and agility at a national trial, and was a marvel to watch. We have had a very robust K-9 unit in past years, especially during the 80’s and 90’s.
Many area agencies have K-9 units that have evolved after the use of Greenwood Village dogs helped them fight crime and protect their citizens. Arapahoe and Douglas Counties, Littleton, Colorado Springs and other agencies are just a few that formed K-9 teams with the assistance from Greenwood Village. We went down to one dog during the last several years and we retired our last dog, MAX, in 2010 due to medical issues and his long service. K-9 MAX retired on a Friday after surgery, and developed an infection and passed away the following week.
He is survived by his handler, Officer Jeff Mulqueen, Jeff's wife and two daughters, as well as the men and women of the Greenwood Village Police Department. Our citizens have also suffered from not having a quick response from a trained K-9 team during in-progress crimes and calls for service. Our dogs have had a long history of crime fighting in the community. We have tracked down homicide suspects, robbery suspects, burglars, bad guys in general, and missing children. We have held records for seizures of illegal narcotics (850 pounds) and seized over $2.5 million dollars in drug related property, cars, guns and cash.
Our dogs have protected our officers from unruly crowds, and have put their lives on the line to protect the citizens of the region, let alone the citizens of Greenwood Village. We have assisted local, county, State and Federal Agencies. One of our dogs was shot as he bit, disarmed, and apprehended a suspect who had fired shots after taking drugs. Even after being shot, he did his job perfectly and bit the suspect in the hand holding the firearm. He was assigned to a desk job and fully recovered and returned to full duty in about six weeks.
We have done countless public demonstrations for groups at picnics, in schools, and at other special functions so people can meet and pet these dogs that protect our officers and citizens. We use them for apprehension of suspects, tracking, building and evidence searches, area searches, detection of narcotics from buildings, lockers, cars and other places. Greenwood dogs have been well known in the past for their various abilities and outstanding performance. The cost of obtaining, training, equipping, and caring for a police dog has increased dramatically over the years. In these budgetary times, Police Dogs have become a luxury.
Your help and dedication to assisting us in rebuilding our K-9 Program is a much appreciated undertaking. We are partnering with our community to obtain these very valuable resources that will help us take a bite out of crime. On behalf of the men and women of the Greenwood Village Police Department and the citizens of the city, we sincerely thank you for participating in this cause.
Lt. Dave Fisher
Patrol Services
Greenwood Village Police Department
