I. RECOMMENDATION:
The Chief of Police recommends the Council approve K-9 Officer Franciso Ybarra to purchase Canine Eli.
II. BACKGROUND:
Officer Ybarra and Canine Eli have been partners for the last three years and are a team that holds a special bond that only K-9 handlers and their partner share.
III. DISCUSSION:
K-9 Officer Francisco Ybarra has decided to apply out and is currently on the fast track to be picked up by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department. His final date is not known at this time.
Officer Ybarra has requested he be allowed to take Eli with him if he ends up leaving the City of Coalinga.
Eli was purchased in 2019 for $9,500.00. The recommendation is for Officer Ybarra to purchase Eli from the City for $1.00 and the department would retain the $1,500.00 kennel it purchased for Eli. The kennel can be used for a new canine should the City decide to purchase another canine.
Staff supports Officer Ybarra's interest to take Eli. If Eli was to be reassigned to another handler, we would have a 50/50 chance that Eli would bond with the new handler and remain productive. In most cases, when a canine is placed with a new handler, their drive, productivity and quality of life goes down, thus making the animal useless.
If Officer Ybarra was to take Eli upon his departure, Officer Ybarra would be required to sign a release of liability relieving the City from any legal responsibility for Eli.
IV. ALTERNATIVES:
1. The city can retain Eli once Officer Ybarra leaves (not recommended);
2. Allow Officer Ybarra to purchase Eli for a different price (not recommended).
V. FISCAL IMPACT:
$1.00 unanticipated revenue to the City's General Fund. |