Police K9 Programs throughout the country are expensive to run.  Ours is no different.  Captain Kay personally owns Krueger, and the city of Vernonia leases the K9 each year.  While the K9 program is a budgeted item for the Police Department, it is run mostly on donations from the citizens of Vernonia, groups and local businesses.  

With several donations, we were able to sustain the K9 program and enhance our overall law enforcement capabilities.  The cash donations we received have allowed us to purchase a ballistic vest for Krueger, keeping him safer and improving our deployment abilities.  

The Vernonia Police Department K9 Program began in November 2004 after hiring Officer Mike Kay.  Officer Kay brought his K9 Handler Certification and his Certified Police K9, German Sheppard Krueger, to the program.  Officers Kay and Krueger have been involved in multiple drug seizures, drug money seizures, and fugitive apprehensions.  As a team, they have worked with local city, county and state law enforcement agencies, as well as several surrounding jurisdictions.  In addition, Sergeant Kay and Officer Krueger are involved with the Columbia County Narcotic Enforcement Team.  

Captain Kay is a DrugBeat Certifying Agent, giving him the authority to certify K9 officers and handlers through the DrugBeat National K9 Training Program.  He is qualified to certify dogs and handlers in K9 Apprehension, K9 Narcotics Detection and K9 Man Tracking.  For more information, please visit the DrugBeat website.

How to Make Your Tax-Deductible Donation to VPD's K9 Officer Program

If you are interested in making a donation to this program, you can stop by the station or city hall in person.  You can also mail your donation to:

Vernonia Police Department
K9 Officer Program Donations
1001 Bridge Street
Vernonia, OR 97064

Remember, your donation is tax-deductible.  If you send your donation by mail, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so we can send you your tax receipt.

K9 Donations Surge
With Help from Citizens and the Lions Club

When we announced a fund raising need, the response was tremendous.  K9 Officer
Krueger needed some equipment, including a ballistic vest for which we had no budget.  Many people made donations through our donation can at city hall.  Others personally brought donations to the station or Officer Kay.  

In addition to the great response in cash, some local businesses have donated as well.  Creatures Pet Store generously donated food for Krueger for the life of the K9 Officer Program.  Gardner Feed and Seed provided food for Officer Krueger, too.  

Two donations in particular provided the funding to purchase the new, high-end ballistic vest for Officer Krueger.  We received an anonymous donation of $300.  The Vernonia Lions Club raised a remarkable $1,000 for us as well.  

Sergeant Kay and K9 Officer Krueger  Featured on KPTV's Better

"Every day in big cities and small towns, police dogs put their lives on the line to protect us.  Better takes a special look at these animal heroes."

Better TV's Kim Singer visited then Interim Chief Kay and Officer Krueger to take a closer look at our K9 Officer Program.  Interim Chief Kay was able to talk about what personality traits make a good police dog, and how they are trained.  Interim Chief Kay and Krueger gave several demonstrations for the camera.  Highlights from these demos are featured in the video.  

The story aired nation-wide on April 29, 2009 on the morning program Better.  Visit the YouTube broadcast of this segment.  

Kelly Maus hosted the segment, ending it with a reminder that, like other departments, our K9 Officer Program is run largely through donations.