Amador County – During Monday’s meeting of the Jackson City Council, Jackson Police Chief Scott Morrison announced a new addition to his team: a K-9 drug sniffing dog. The German Sheppard’s acquisition was made possible through a grant from an anonymous donor from the bay area. The total cost of shipping the dog from Germany, vaccines and papers cost around $10,000. Reserve Officer Al Lewis, who is currently retired but previously spent 18 years in charge of the canine program at the Newark Police Department, will have full responsibility over the animal. Lewis will make a reserve wage and be authorized to act in a law enforcement capacity over 3 shifts per week. Morrison said the dog was needed in response to a growing drug problem in Jackson and the county as a whole. “We’ve been touching the top of the iceberg as far as narcotics in our city,” he said. The majority of funding for the upkeep and continuation of the program will come from the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund. This covers the costs of a specially equipped car, training and supplies. The dog is expected to be ready for narcotics detection on the streets in 3 to 4 weeks. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.