Drug Dogs Show Success In Yakima County

The Yakima Herald-Republic reported recently on the successful use of drug dogs in Yakima County.  The dogs are part of the Yakima police force, and were temporarily reassigned to duty on highways in Yakima County.

During the month of September, the two dogs used in the interdiction effort resulted in 21 drug arrests being made.  $2,800 in cash was also seized, along with a variety of different drugs, and two pistols.  In addition, three vehicles were also seized.

The operation was conducted with help from the DEA, as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Officers assigned to the drug dogs have extra training in interdiction, which focuses on making traffic stops that are intended to look more closely for drugs.

Interlocal agreements, mutual aid pacts, and other legal instruments can allow for officers to work outside of their normal jurisdictions.

This is a good thing, because as we all know, gangs and drug dealers do not stop at the city limits sign when in the act of committing a crime.

In Sunnyside, we have a tremendous opportunity to make a positive change for our community by restoring our police department to full staffing.  After reversing the damaging cuts inflicted by the current City Council, we can obtain drug dogs of our own to fight crime in the Lower Valley.

With teamwork, we can potentially conduct operations like the one mentioned in the Yakima Herald article.  It is time for better results.  We simply can not afford to allow the criminals to continue to gain the upper hand by having a  Council that is not focused on public safety.

This is why I support the proposal by some of the other candidates to obtain and use drug dogs during traffic stops in Sunnyside.  With a fully staffed, and better resourced police department, we can turn the tide against gangs and drugs.

Vote out the incumbents.

We Deserve Better Government!

Reference:

Yakima Herald-Republic: YPD reports results from interdiction on highways