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Council approves grant usage, application for K-9 program

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Gallup Police Department Deputy Chief Franklin Boyd was at the Gallup City Council regular meeting on Aug. 28 to speak for two items on the agenda pertaining to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant.

Per the meeting agenda, the U.S. Department of Justice has grant funding available through the JAG program. This program will aid the Gallup Police Department by assisting state, local and tribal efforts to prevent or reduce crime and violence.

For 2017, the Department of Justice awarded a grant in the amount of $38,686 to the City of Gallup and McKinley County.

Boyd said this amount would be split between the city and the county, with $24,000 for the city, and $14,686 for the county.

When asked why it took as long as it did for the grant to be awarded, Boyd said the grant was frozen for a year.

GPD Patrolman Terrance Peyketewa was present at the meeting to explain that the grant funds have been designated to the police department’s K-9 program.

With the four dogs on hand as K-9 officers, Peyketewa said the city can be covered 24 hours a day when no one is absent.

“We acquired [the dogs] through various vendors,” he said when asked by the council where the K-9 officers are obtained. “[People from] California, Indiana. [It] depends on the kind of dog they have.”

Peyketewa said most of the K-9s have an initial training span of five weeks with a handler, totaling 240 hours of training. On top of this, it takes about a week for a dog to adjust to its handler and surroundings.

The second grant falls under the JAG program as well.

Boyd said the public and governing officials must be aware that the department is applying for the grant and be given an opportunity to comment.

If awarded, the grant would be in the amount of $35,513. Boyd said in this case, $20,513 would go to the city, and $15,000 to the county.

He added that these funds would also be utilized for the K-9 program.

Mayor Jackie McKinney said he appreciates the work the police department is putting in to seek out grants. According to McKinney, as long as the department keeps doing so, the council will continue to support their endeavors.

Both items were approved with a 5-0-0 vote.

By Cody Begaye

Sun Correspondent

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