Submitted Photo K9 Delphi, the New Town police department’s K9, retired in July when she was almost 9. She is now living with her handler. The New Town police department is raising money to purchase a new K9 and pay for training and needed equipment.

The New Town Police Department is raising funds to purchase another police dog. New Town K9 Delphi retired on July 17 after six years of loyal service and is now living with her handler.

New Town Police Chief Jackie Halonen said so far about $20,000 has been raised toward purchase of the new K9 and training for the dog and its handler. They are also raising money toward purchase of additional equipment, including a bullet and stab proof vest for their new dog and training for narcotics, tracking, article recovery and other training equipment.

In addition, the police department might purchase K9 agility equipment so its new dog can practice and keep sharp for all the skills it will need in the field, such as crawling and jumping obstacles such as fences and going into tight spaces.

North Country Oil of Parshall, Reservation Telephone Cooperative and Cornerstone Bank sponsored a dinner and silent auction on Oct. 20 that raised money for the purchase of the dog.

According to a press release issued by Halonen, other current monetary donors include: Rural Community Grant Fund AgriBank, Farm Credit Services of Mandan and Farm Credit Services of North Dakota, Marathon Oil Company, Reservation Telephone Company, Mountrail Towing & Recovery, Standifer Rentals and Truck Repair, Mountrail Electrical Cooperative, Haddeland Construction Inc., MBI Energy Services, Ackerman Estvold Engineering & MGMT Consulting Inc., Three Affiliated Tribes, West Dakota Inn, Kennbeck’s Jack and Jill, Larsen Service Drug.

Past Silent Auction Donors include: Kennbeck’s Jack and Jill, Larsen Service Drug, Jason’s Superfoods, JC Java Coffeehouse, United Quality, Teddy’s Residential Suites – New Town, Northrop Grumman, Reynolds Insurance Agency, New Town News, Dakota Prairie Vet Services, NAPA Auto Parts – North Shore Auto Parts, Cornerstone Bank – New Town, Subway.

Halonen said the police department hopes to purchase its new dog sometime next spring.

The handler for the new dog and the dog will also go to training for six weeks.

Halonen said a police K9 is extremely valuable in investigations.

People who would like to donate towards the purchase of the police department’s new K9 can call the New Town police department at 627-5222 for more information.