Big news! The Rock Island Police Department needs your help naming its newest K-9!
The male, 14-month-old Belgian-Malinois and German Shepard mix is from Cedar Creek Kennels in Monmouth, Illinois. Name suggestions must be submitted in the comments section of the City's Facebook post or in the comments of the police department's post about the K-9 naming contest. Names will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6.
The K-9 will replace former K-9 Sparky Jackson, who died unexpectedly after an emergency medical procedure in September. An anonymous donor and supporter of K-9 programs stepped forward and generously contributed $10,000 toward the purchase and training of a new police dog for the department.
Officer Alex Bowman will again serve as K-9 handler and will go through 10 weeks of training with the dog, also at Cedar Creek Kennels. The K-9 must be named prior to training, which begins at the end of March.
Police department personnel will vote on the winning name, which will be revealed during the March 11 city council meeting.