Daleville DPS gets new K-9 officer

A four-legged law officer is the newest member of the Daleville Department of Public Safety.

Bravo the canine cop was unanimously approved as the DPS’s newest officer at the Daleville City Council meeting Aug. 17.

Bravo was introduced to the council at the council work session held the day before by Daleville DPS Chief Allen Medley.

Medley told the council Aug. 16 that the Slocomb Police Department had offered the Daleville DPS the opportunity to purchase the certified K-9 officer and his truck for $25,000. Bravo’s previous handler had worked with him for about a year but had recently transferred to another department, Medley said, explaining the package deal.

Bravo is a Belgian Malinois and is a certified drug dog but can also serve as a patrol and tracking dog, Medley said.

The vehicle offered with Bravo is a fully equipment patrol vehicle with 130,000 miles, Medley said. “All we have to do is put stripes and identification as a K-9 vehicle on it.”

The department has a radio that can be installed in the vehicle. “Radio’s cost about $600 but we already have a radio for the vehicle,” Medley said.

Medley told the council that his estimate is to get an equipped law enforcement vehicle and a certified dog would exceed $50,000. “Working with Slocomb, I know that all their vehicles are being well maintained and serviced,” he said. “This could jump start our canine officer program.”

Medley said that the K-9 handler will be DPS Lt. Daniel Przybylski. “Dothan (Police Department) has already offered to train Danny for free and offered to work with the dog.”

The next meeting of the Daleville City Council is Sept. 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the Daleville City Hall. The meeting is open to the public.