Grants Fund Two Canine Units
When the ThedaCare Foundation-Berlin board met last month, it was a unanimous vote to give their approval to the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office grant application submitted by Sheriff Mark A. Podoll for funds for two K-9 units. The board agreed to give $14,000 to the department to become of the lead sponsors for the K-9 program.
The request was made by the Green Lake Sheriff’s Department because the county is seeing a large increase in drug use. “The canines are an essential tool in aiding to detect drugs, thus assisting the department in enforcing the laws and attempting to curtail illegal drug use in our area,” said Sheriff Podoll.
Sheriff Podoll believes the K-9 program will aide them in enhancing the security and safety of all citizens and visitors. “The arrests for illegal drug use and crimes related to illegal drugs have shown a marked and steady increase in the last few years,” he added.
The application also stated that “No agencies in our County have K-9 units. Our former K-9 deputies have proven to play an intricate part in ‘taking a bite out of crime’ in our community.” In December 2015 two officers were assigned K-9’s and they have already been working and making a difference.
Recently Sheriff Podoll and the K-9 Units, Deputy Sheriff Jason Preuss and his dog Tess, and Deputy Sheriff Mike Prachel and his dog Roky, met with members of ThedaCare Foundation-Berlin. Preuss has been with the department for 19 years and his black female lab, Tess, will turn 2 in April. Prachel has been a member of the department for 10 years and his canine, a 2-1/2 year old yellow lab is 1-1/2 years old. Both K-9’s are fully trained and certified in working. They have done several vehicle searches and also participated in an apartment search.
Brian Floeter, Chairman, ThedaCare Foundation-Berlin, said the K9’s are healthcare related as they work in prevention to curtail the misuse of narcotics.
For more than 100 years, ThedaCare™ has been committed to finding a better way to deliver serious and complex healthcare to patients throughout Northeast Wisconsin. The organization serves more than 200,000 patients annually and employs more than 6,800 healthcare professionals throughout the region. ThedaCare has seven hospitals located in Appleton, Neenah, Berlin, Waupaca, Shawano, New London and Wild Rose and 34 clinics in 14 counties. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving our specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a non-profit healthcare organization with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs, and a foundation dedicated to community service. ThedaCare Regional Cancer Center opened in February. For more information, visit www.thedacare.org or follow ThedaCare on Facebook and Twitter.
