Whenever a dog handler is transferred or otherwise leaves the K-9 unit, the police dog assigned to that handler will, unless unfit for continued service, remain under the control of the K-9 unit. The serviceability of any police dog in the K-9 unit shall be determined by the K-9 handler and approved by the chief of police.
(Ord. 2671 § 1, 2009)
Police dogs considered to be unserviceable and of no further value to the department, for any reason except illness, viciousness, or similar situation, may be offered for sale to their last assigned dog handler or may be subject to other appropriate disposition as approved by the chief of police. If a police dog is to be sold to its former handler, the officer purchasing the dog shall, as a condition precedent the sale, be requested to enter into a contract with the city for the sale of city property (the police dog) in which the purchaser shall release the city of Prosser, the Prosser police department, and personnel for all liability or responsibility for any action or circumstance which concerns the dog after the date of sale. This shall be cleared through the chief of police and filed with the city legal advisor (Prosser city attorney). The city's standard sale price for a police dog being sold to its former handler is one dollar. The former handler purchasing his/her police dog must, as a condition of receipt of the dog, immediately license the dog in the former handler's name and at the former handler's own expense. All pedigree papers shall be given to the officer purchasing a police dog.
(Ord. 2671 § 2, 2009)
Where none of the above conditions exist, police dogs deemed no longer serviceable shall be withdrawn from department use in the manner deemed advisable by the chief of police. In this regard, the safety of the members of the community at large and the reputation of the department shall be prime considerations.
(Ord. 2671 § 3, 2009)
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, paragraph, phrase, or word of this chapter should be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unconstitutionality thereof shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other section, subsection, sentence, clause, paragraph, phrase or word of this chapter.
(Ord. 2671 § 4, 2009)