POAM and AT&T of MI Announce Law Enforcement Grant Winners

On Tuesday, July 24, POAM and AT&T of Michigan held an award ceremony to announce the winners of the AT&T of Michigan law enforcement grant to support K9 units. A significant number of our members and their K9 departments battle to maintain their units’ upkeep, such as veterinarian visits and equipment for patrol cars. While the costs continually add up, this grant allows POAM to proudly award the most deserving K9 units.

Law Enforcement Grant from POAM, AT&T Michigan
From left to right, POAM President Jim Tignanelli, State Representative Leslie Love, and AT&T Director of External Affairs Robert P. Jones pictured with the K9 $10,000 Grant Award check.

Winners

Law Enforcement Grant Winners
POAM presents the AT&T of Michigan K9 $10,000 grant to winning departments.

Five K9 departments are the recipients of the AT&T of Michigan law enforcement grant and will receive $2,000 each. Please read how each department will use the grant for their unit!

Redford Township Police Department

Redford Township Law Enforcement Grant Winner
Redford Police Department’s K9 unit with Jones, Love, and Tignanelli.

Capt. Nick Lentine and his department currently have one K9 dog that helps Officer Cooper. Also serving as the School Resource Officer for South Redford Schools, Officer Cooper and his K9 dog perform tracking and narcotics detection for the department. Due to the rise of opioids and narcotics in the community, the AT&T of Michigan K9 Grant will allow the Redford Township Police Department to purchase the following for their K9:

  • Protective boots
  • Paw washer
  • K9 overdose kit
  • K9 rinse kit
  • K9 1st aid kit
  • Cooling blanket
  • Tactical Handgun flashlight

Roseville Police Department

Roseville Police Department Law Enforcement Grant Winner
Roseville Police Department’s K9 unit with Jones, Love, and Tignanelli.

Deputy Chief Mitch Berlin and the Roseville Police Department has two K9 units. Officer Dobrzycki and his K9 partner Broc are trained in narcotic detection, tracking, and aggression, while Officer Witechia and his K9 partner Corporal are trained in explosives detection, tracking, and aggression. The department’s K9 program provides the best possible police protection, but they need new vehicles to ensure their safety and ability to patrol. Purchasing new patrol cars also means new car equipment for the K9s. The AT&T of Michigan K9 Grant will allow the Roseville Police Department to:

  • Purchase a new mobile unit for their patrol car.


Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office

Ottawa County Sherrif's Department Law Enforcement Grant Winner
Ottawa County Sherrif’s K9 unit with Jones, Love, and Tignanelli.

Sheriff Steve Kemper and the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office would love to start a K9 program for the Ottawa County Correctional Facility. Due to concerns of outside contraband entering into the facility, the K9 program would ensure safety and security are high priorities for all in the facility. The Sheriff’s Office would like to introduce a K9 that’s trained as a multi-service dog for tasks in the Correctional Facility, such as cell extraction, crowd control, narcotics detection, and officer support. The AT&T of Michigan K9 Grant would provide the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office with funds to:

  • Purchase a K9 dog to start their unit.

Buena Vista Police Department, Saginaw, MI

Buena Vista Police Department Law Enforcement Grant Winner
Buena Vista Police Department with Jones, Love, and Tignanelli.

Sgt. Russ Pahssen and the Buena Vista Police Department started their K9 unit over a year ago. As the K9 supervisor, Sgt. Pahssen and K9 Officer Heyn raised $20,000 in local donations to successfully start and maintain their unit. With the rising cost of upkeep and new equipment, they would love to build a greater fund to easily provide new items for their unit. The AT&T of Michigan K9 Grant will provide the Buena Vista Police Department funds for:

  • Future veterinarian bill.
  • Training.
  • Replacement of K9 equipment.

Saginaw Valley Police Canine Association and Saginaw Police K9 unit

Saginaw Police K9 unit Law Enforcement Grant Winner
Saginaw Police K9 unit with Jones, Love, and Tignanelli.

The Saginaw Valley Police Canine Association and Saginaw Police K9 unit consist of four dual-purpose narcotics K9 teams. The unit has been a great help to the association and community. By increasing K9 staffing to 24/7, the Saginaw Police K9 unit has seen tons of positive progress, such as removing numerous guns from the streets, confiscating countless amounts of narcotics, and bridging the gap between law enforcement and community members.  The AT&T of Michigan K9 Grant will allow The Saginaw Valley Police Canine Association and Saginaw Police K9 unit to:

  • Maintain necessary funding to cover veterinary and ongoing equipment expenses for four K9s.
  • Secure funding to replace to beloved K9 Canjo when he retires.
Special Thanks
POAM Law Enforcement Grant for K9's in Michigan
This AT&T of Michigan grant supports the K9 units in five departments.

Thank you to all of the applicants who entered. We appreciate the support and wish we could’ve selected more winners for this special law enforcement grant.

We would like to send huge thanks to AT&T of Michigan for the opportunity to give grants to such deserving units.

POAM reserved the right to split grant money as needed to best serve the K9 units selected.

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