Meet Atlas, Grapevine’s new K9 officer, as city increases law enforcement support
The Grapevine Police Department has a new recruit. Grapevine Police Chief Mike Hamlin swore in a new K9 officer named Atlas July 1.
Atlas is a 1-and-a-half-year-old Dutch Shepherd whose specialty is explosive detection and capturing suspects. Atlas is the second dog to actively work with the department currently.
The other K9 in the department is a Belgian Malinois named Thor, and he specializes in narcotics and apprehension.
“We ask these dogs to do things that we sometimes won’t even ask ourselves to do,” Hamlin said. “It’s a different kind of heroism. It’s important to recognize that. We are grateful and excited to expand our service to keep the community safe and welcome our newest officer to the department.”
The Grapevine City Council unanimously voted to approve the purchase of the newest K9 at the Feb 3 city council meeting.
The department said it takes several months of training and certification to ensure that each k9 is the best fit for its role, the department and the officers who will be handling them.
Voters passed an extension of the Crime Prevention Program, a sales tax that funds the city’s police department, during the May 2 election. The passing of the measure means the department will continue to use the tax for another 20-year period.
Other public safety measures the city has recently taken is the purchase of a $98,400 police patrol boat to help with the increasing number of service calls to Lake Grapevine.
Council members also approved applications to participate in multiple state criminal justice grants including for mental health, purchase of bullet resistant glass for police vehicles and two solar-powered mobile surveillance trailers.