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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 AGREEMENT FOR TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF A POLICE SERVICE DOGAgenda Item 10 Reviewed: AGENDA REPORT City Manager Finance Director N/A MEETING DATE: FEBRUARY 19, 2019 TO: MATTHEW S. WEST, ACTING CITY MANAGER FROM: STU GREENBERG, CHIEF OF POLICE SUBJECT: AGREEMENT FOR TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF A POLICE SERVICE DOG SUMMARY Officer Chuck Mitchell will be rotating out of the Canine Program and into the Patrol Division, effective shift change March 18, 2019. PSD Kingsley is a 4'/2 year-old Belgian Malinois and has served as a Tustin Police Canine for two years. It is difficult for a mature PSD to be re-trained and form a bond with a new handler due to its age. Based on the unique bond between canine and handler, Officer Mitchell has agreed to accept ownership of Kingsley. The Agreement for Transfer of Ownership of a Police Service Canine has been reviewed and approved as to form by the City Attorney. RECOMMENDATION Approve the Agreement for Transfer of Ownership for a Police Services Dog between the City of Tustin and Officer Chuck Mitchell so that Kingsley can live out the remainder of his days with the Mitchell family FISCAL IMPACT Officer Mitchell will pay the City the sum of $1.00 for the transfer of ownership, and he will assume all future liability, maintenance, and care. CORRELATION TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN None. Agreement For Transfer Of Ownership of a Police Service Dog February 19, 2019 Page No. 2 of 2 BACKGROUND PSD Kingsley is.a 4 -1/2 -year-old Belgian Malinois that has been in service with the Tustin Police Department since 2017. The City of Tustin purchased Kingsley from Adlerhorst International in Riverside County in 2017 for the sum of $11,250.00 after he was imported from The Netherlands. The monies used to pay for Kingsley were donated by the Kingsley Foundation. Kingsley and his handler, Officer Chuck Mitchell, have been partners since 2017. The team has handled nearly 500 calls, 100's of documented usages, including 2 apprehensions and four surrenders plus numerous outside agency assists. The team has also contributed greatly to community outreach by attending and participating in the following events: • The Annual OC Police Canine Association benefit show; • The Tet Festival in Westminster; • English and Spanish Citizens' Academy; • Block Captain Meetings; • TPD's Annual Walk to School Program; • Boy Scout police facility tours; • TPD's Annual Open House; • National Night Out; • Multiple school functions for the Tustin Unified School District, and • Countless meet and greets with citizens. The service life for police service dogs varies but typically is 4 — 7 years. Although Kingsley is still a healthy 4 -1/2 -year-old dog, he has reached the end of his service career and will be retiring on March 18, 2019. Officer Mitchell will be rotating into the Patrol Division at that time and will no longer be assigned to the Canine Unit. In order to fulfill the donation by the Kingsley Foundation, Adlerhorst International has agreed to provide the Tustin Police Department with a new Police Service Dog at no additional cost. A new handler will be selected during the normal testing period late March 2019. STU GFkEN&6RG Chief of Police Attachment: 1. Agreement for Transfer of Ownership of a Police Service Dog ATTACHMENT NO. 1 AGREEMENT FOR TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF A POLICE SERVICE DOG This Agreement is made and entered into, to be effective this 19th day of February, 2019, by and between the CITY OF TUSTIN, a California municipal corporation, (hereinafter referred to as the "City") and OFFICER CHUCK MITCHELL (hereinafter referred to as "Officer Mitchell"). WITNESSETH WHEREAS, The City has determined that the City's Police Service Dog, "Kingsley" is 4 -1/2 -years -old, and after 2 years of service with the City's Police Department should be retired on February 21, 2019; and WHEREAS, Officer Mitchell has been Kingsley's handler for two years of service with the City's Police Department; and WHEREAS, The City's Police Department has determined that given Kingsley's age, his value as a police service dog has completely depreciated and that the ownership of Kingsley should be transferred to Officer Mitchell, who has expressed a desire to acquire ownership of Kingsley; and WHEREAS, in the absence of such transfer, the City would be responsible for the continued care and maintenance of Kingsley; NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows: Section 1: The City, as the owner of Kingsley, hereby determines to sell police service dog Kingsley to Officer Mitchell, the purchaser, for the sum of one dollar ($1.00), having determined that the canine is no longer of any value to the City's Police Department. Section 2: The City hereby transfers absolute legal ownership and possession of Kingsley to Officer Mitchell in return for the commitment of Officer Mitchell to assume all responsibility for the future care and maintenance of Kingsley. Section 3: Officer Mitchell further agrees to and shall fully indemnify, defend and keep and hold, the City, including the City's Police Department, and the City's officers, agents, officials and employees, harmless from any and all costs, liability, damage, or expense (including cost of suits and fees and reasonable expenses of legal services) claimed by anyone by reason of injury to or death of person or persons, or damage to or destruction of property caused or alleged to have been caused by Kingsley on or after the date of this Agreement. It is the intent of this Agreement that the City, the City's Police Department, its officers, officials, employees, and agents shall have no responsibility or financial liability resulting from any future action of Kingsley and that Officer Mitchell shall be fully and solely responsible, therefore. THIS AGREEMENT is entered into the date hereinabove written. ATTEST: ERICA N. YASUDA, CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO FORM: DAVID E. KENDIG, CITY ATTORNEY 6►: CITY OF TUSTIN la CHARLES E. PUCKETT, MAYOR CHUCK MITCHELL, POLICE OFFICER