GPD to absorb K-9 costs paid by group

The Grafton K-9 Foundation, which raised $100,000 to purchase the police department’s first canine last year, is facing a financial cliff by December, requiring the police department to absorb the brunt of the organization’s financial responsibilities next year.

Police Chief Jeff Caponera told the Village Finance and Personnel Committee last week that with a fund balance of only $3,500 to cover its $962-a-month canine squad car lease, the K-9 Foundation will soon be broke.

The foundation was originally created in 2021 to purchase the police department’s first canine and cover related equipment and supply costs, including the lease on a specially equipped squad car. Two years later, the group raised the necessary $100,000 to purchase the canine, Maverick.

Over time, many of the foundation’s small recurring expenses were integrated into the department’s budget while others were donated by local businesses — Burlo Pet Services provides Maverick’s food and Best Friends Veterinary Center gives discounted service.

However, Caponera said, it was a question of when, not if, the department would take over all of the reoccurring expenses.

“The foundation was never meant to fully fund the K-9 program for an infinite amount of time,” he said, noting the goal was not even to fund it through Maverick’s life.

Instead, the foundation was created to raise funds for “big, one-time” expenses such as, hopefully, the purchase of a second canine in 2027, Caponera said.

By that time, he said, Maverick will be at the mid-point of his service. Getting a second dog would provide a redundancy and make sure there isn’t a gap in having a canine after Maverick’s retirement.

Trained police dogs are readily available, but expensive, Caponera said. It would cost between $80,000 and $100,000 to purchase a second dog.

Caponera said the department “knows the value” Maverick brings to the community, extending from drug and firearms busts to tracking suspects and finding missing people.

A couple months ago, Maverick located an elderly person with dementia who was sitting in a hot car, Caponera said.

Maverick also acts as the police department’s public relations ambassador, Caponera said.

“He’s at a lot of events. He knows when to turn it on and turn it off,” he said.

The K-9 Foundation is ramping up fundraising efforts, Caponera said. Earlier this month, it hosted a cornhole tournament.

The foundation is accepting community and business donations, Caponera said.

During its review of  the 2025-2029 capital improvement plan, the village approved the inclusion of the annual canine squad car payments in the police department budget.