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Ohio County Commission To Buy New K-9, EMT Equipment With Opioid Settlement Funding

photo by: Joselyn King

Ohio County Commissioner Randy Wharton, left, and Commission President Zach Abraham address issues during Tuesday night’s meeting.

WHEELING — Ohio County will be purchasing a new K-9 officer for the Sheriff’s Department, as well as needed standardized equipment for the county’s emergency squads with opioid settlement money received by the state.

Ohio County received $380,916 in opioid settlement funds, minus about $43,000 in spending approved Tuesday night, according to Commission President Zach Abraham.

Administrator Randy Russell told commissioners Tuesday the county’s emergency medical technicians and Sheriff’s Department had immediate needs that would qualify for use of the money.

First, Ohio County EMTs Anthony McDaniel and Jeff Johnson came before commissioners at their Jan. 7 meeting to tell them their video laryngoscopes — a tool used when intubating a patient — were reaching their end of life. They also suggested the scopes be purchased for all emergency service providers in the county so all departments can use the same equipment.

On Tuesday, Russell proposed to commissioners spending up to $25,000 on 10 video laryngoscopes for use by emergency crews in ambulances throughout the county.

Abraham asked how long the current devices had been in use, and County Emergency Management Director Lou Vargo answered five years.

Secondly, Russell reported the county’s dual-purpose K-9 Zoro is almost 10 years old and approaching retirement.

“Having a dual-purpose K-9 with the sheriff’s department is integral to keeping both drugs and guns off our streets,” Russell said. “Sheriff (Nelson) Croft and Chief Deputy (Kent) Lewis have obtained an estimate to replace Zoro. That cost will be roughly $18,000.

“There is some lead time in that so they would like to make that purchase.”

Abraham asked where Zoro would go upon retirement, and Lewis assured him Zoro was still a functioning K-9 for the time being.

“He is approaching 10 years of age,” Lewis said. “Some genetic issues are starting to happen that can degrade him of use to us. He no longer apprehends, and he can’t support a bite.

“But he is still great for opioid and narcotics vehicle searches. He can still do tracking for suspects and for individuals who are lost.”

Typically the handler assigned to the K-9 asks the sheriff for permission to purchase the dog, he continued.

“It has to be for at least $1, and it has to be by check so it can be verified there was a purchase of the dog,” Lewis said. Typically, the K9 is purchased by his handler, and thus Zoro would likely go to live with his handler Deputy Matt Hronek.

Historically, veterinarians who take care of the department’s K9s have continued to provide care to the dogs after retirement, he added.

“He is not there yet,” Lewis said. “But we believe a dog to be an asset not only to officer safety, but to the community.”

The new dog would come from Germany, and the K9 and its handler will train for a six-to-eight-week program. Lewis noted a commitment was needed soon from the county as there is presently a dog available, and the next training session starts March 17.

Croft added that he would send out emails to deputies asking who among them had interest in being a K-9 handler.

“There is a process, but it is not for everyone,” he said.

Abraham and Commissioner Randy Wharton approved the spending of the opioid settlement dollars on Tuesday. Commissioner Don Nickerson did not participate due to illness.

The commissioners next meet at 6 p.m. on Feb. 4 at the City-County Building.

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