GPD adds K9 Ziva as newest officer

Welcoming new K9 Officer Ziva to the Greencastle Police Department are (from left) Asst. Chief Ed Wilson, Chief Chris Jones, Officer Angela Taylor and family, Putnam County Deputy Kyle Lee (who restarted the K9 program in 2016 as a GPD officer) and Veronica Sawyer from Blue Line Kennels.

Courtesy photo/GREENCASTLE POLICE DEPT.

The Greencastle Police Department added its newest officer this week and in the process restarted a program dormant for more than four years.

GPD officially announced the addition of K9 Officer Ziva, a two-year-old female German shepherd whose handler will be Officer Angela Taylor.

Taylor and Ziva will spend the next few months training together, with Ziva set to specialize in narcotics detection and tracking.

“Ziva was graciously donated to our department by Blue line Kennel LLC, located in Reelsville,” Chief Chris Jones said. “Blue Line Kennels is a premier local dog boarding business.”

The chief further elaborated that other contributors to restarting the K9 program include the Putnam County Adult Probation Department, Taylor’s Hometown Hardware Inc., JTN Services, Mayor Bill Dory, Clerk-Treasurer Lynda Dunbar, the Greencastle Board of Public Works and Safety and Tom Handy.

In recommending restarting the program to the Board of Works last month, Jones emphasized the donations the department had already received for the effort as well as the fact that the $2,000-$3,000 budget item for dog care was never taken out of the GPD budget and can now be used.

He also praised the “highly motivated” Taylor, who “has taken it upon herself to learn as much as she can from other K9 officers.” Jones added that Taylor had advocated for restarting the K9 program since she joined the department three-and-a-half years ago.

“Ziva will be a welcomed addition to our department as we continue to combat the illegal drugs in our community,” Jones said Wednesday. “Having K-9 Ziva at the Greencastle Police Department will help us better serve and protect our own community and not have to rely only on outside assistance.”

The GPD K9 program has been on hold since Officer Kyle Lee left for the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office along with his dog Cain in April 2019. Deputy Lee remains in the service of PCSO, though Cain has since retired.

Prior to Board of Works approval, Jones also noted that Ziva will not be used as “an aggressive attack tool,” crediting Lee with restarting the program originally and being “highly successful.”

On a motion from member Trudy Selvia, the request received unanimous Board of Works approval, with Craig Tuggle and Mayor Dory adding their affirmative votes.

With that support, Ziva will soon be seen on the streets of Greencastle with Taylor, who is currently assigned to the night shift.

Editor Emeritus Eric Bernsee contributed to this report.