La Verne: Canine Will Soon Join LVPD

Press release from the La Verne Chamber of Commerce:

August 17, 2020

The La Verne Police Department will soon have its own canine officer, thanks to a grassroots fundraising effort spearheaded by long-time resident Linda Logan. She founded the La Verne K9 Police Association a year and a half ago, after a police pursuit ended in her neighborhood.

“She called me right after the incident and said hey chief, why was there a need for a canine at the scene, and why are you using Claremont’s canine?” recalls LVPD Chief Nick Paz. “I said, because we don’t have one. She asked if we would like to have one and I said yes.

“Linda explained who she is and what she does – she actually started and runs the nonprofit police canine foundation for the Covina Police Department, so she asked if she could do one for us and I said absolutely yes,” Chief Paz says. “Before I knew it, she had the foundation up and running, had all the members, had all the stuff that’s needed by the state for a nonprofit and they’ve actually started taking donations from the public.”

Logan explained that she started the foundation for the police in Covina, where she works, in 2017, and since then, they have purchased two dogs, two police cars outfitted for canines, and the appropriate training for officers.

“We started the La Verne foundation in July 2019, and did initial fundraising at city’s 4th of July celebration with raffle tickets,” she says. “It went over really, really well, and we’re near the point of purchasing the dog, training and the things that go with it. We’ve put out on Facebook a list of things that people can sponsor if they choose, or they can just send in a donation.”

Logan noted during the La Verne Chamber of Commerce’s Business Connections mixer on Aug. 5 that the association was about $5,000 short of being able to purchase the dog, so Brian Bowcock of the La Verne Friends of the Fourth of July Committee offered some of the funds set aside for the 2020 festivities that were canceled to purchase the dog.

“The La Verne community has really stepped up, and in one year to be able to accomplish what we have is unbelievable,” Logan added.” I want to thank the community and the businesses that have helped us. I’m excited to have this cooperation between the police department and our community.”

Police dogs can be good for public relations as well, she noted. “In Covina, the police dogs are in and out of the office all the time, and it’s a nice thing to see the camaraderie. It’s nice for kids – they offer a way to see that police officers are human, and animals always bring the best out in people.

“With the Gold Line coming in, I think it’s important that we add a different element to the police department, because a dog has a much better nose for things than any human,” Logan said. “It’s a critical element we’re going to need as time progresses in La Verne.”

Much is still needed to provide the city with its first canine officer, and Chief Paz expressed an interest in having two dogs. Donations can be made here, or can be sent to the foundation’s attention in care of the La Verne Police Department, 2061 Third Street, La Verne, CA 91750.

• La Verne Police Department
• August 17, 2020
• (909) 596-1913

This press release was produced by the La Verne Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed are the author's own.