HomeMy WebLinkAbout06 AGREEMENT TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OF POLICE SERVICES DOGDocuSign Envelope ID: 009D57E6-9ACB-4264-ADDC-CAF3F57A8588
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Agenda Item
Reviewed: DS
?ZB
City Manager
Finance Director N/A
MEETING DATE: MAY 7, 2024
TO: NICOLE BERNARD, ACTING CITY MANAGER
FROM: STU GREENBERG, CHIEF OF POLICE
SUBJECT: AGREEMENT FOR TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF POLICE SERVICE
DOG
SUMMARY
Officer Taylor Ryan rotated out of the Canine Program and into the Patrol Division as a
Sergeant, effective March 25, 2024. Police Service Dog (PSD) Ragnar will be retired from
active service. Ragnar is a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois and has served as a Tustin Police
Canine for five years. Based on the unique bond between canine and handler, Sergeant
Taylor Ryan has agreed to accept ownership of Ragnar. The Agreement for Transfer of
Ownership of a Police Service Canine has been reviewed and approved by the City
Attorney.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the Agreement for Transfer of Ownership for a Police Service Dog between the
City of Tustin and Sergeant Taylor Ryan so that Ragnar can live out the remainder of his
days with the Ryan family.
FISCAL IMPACT
Sergeant Ryan 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
BACKGROUND
PSD Ragnar is a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois who has been in service with the Tustin
Police Department since 2019. The City of Tustin purchased Ragnar from Adlerhorst
International in Riverside County in 2019 for the sum of $12,121.00 after he was imported
DocuSign Envelope ID: 009D57E6-9ACB-4264-ADDC-CAF3F57A8588
AGREEMENT FOR TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP
OF POLICE SERVICES DOG
May 7, 2024
Page 2
from the Netherlands. Ragnar and his handler, Officer Taylor Ryan, have been partners
since.
During his time at Tustin PD, Ragnar attended the Basic Handlers School and Narcotics
Detection School. Ragnar is trained in apprehension and narcotics detection of
Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Heroin, Fentanyl, and MDMA.
The team has hundreds of documented usages, including the recovery of firearms, drugs,
and apprehensions of dangerous suspects. The following are some of the successes of
Ragnar and Officer Taylor Ryan:
• 21 firearms seized as a result of vehicle sniff/article search or search warrant
stemming from a sniff.
• 225 felony suspect surrenders without a bite. Eight involved locating a hidden
suspect.
• 1.8 kilos of methamphetamine
• 2.3 kilos of fentanyl
• 6 oz of cocaine
• 2 oz heroin
•2ozMDMA
• .8 kilos marijuana
• 6 suspect apprehensions
• 20 SWAT/SRT deployments
One particular use was remarkable and shows how much training paid off through daily
and weekly routines. On November 18, 2020, Officer Ryan and PSD Ragnar responded
to a domestic violence in progress call. At some point, the suspect ran out of the home
with a handgun in his hand. PSD Ragnar was released to apprehend the suspect. As the
suspect ran, the suspect saw PSD Ragnar running after him and immediately dropped
the gun. Officer Ryan immediately gave the command to PSD Ragnar to stop as the
suspect also gave up and PSD Ragnar immediately returned. The suspect was arrested
without incident and more importantly without the use of force.
The team has also contributed greatly to community outreach by attending Tustin PD's
Annual Walk to School Program, Tustin PD's Annual Open House, 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 5 - 7 years. Although PSD
Ragnar is still a healthy 5-year-old dog, he has reached the end of his service career and
will be retiring on May 7, 2024. Officer Taylor Ryan has rotated into the Patrol Division as
a Sergeant at this time and will no longer be assigned to the Canine Unit.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 009D57E6-9ACB-4264-ADDC-CAF3F57A8588
AGREEMENT FOR TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP
OF POLICE SERVICES DOG
May 7, 2024
Page 3
DocuSigned by: DocuSigned by:
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Manny Arzate Luis Garcia
Acting Deputy Chief Police Lieutenant
Attachment 1. Agreement for Transfer of Ownership of a Police Service Dog
DocuSign Envelope ID: 009D57E6-9ACB-4264-ADDC-CAF3F57A8588
ATTACHMENT NO. 1
AGREEMENT FOR TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF A
POLICE SERVICE DOG
This Agreement is made and entered into, to be effective this 7t" day of May 2024,
by and between the CITY OF TUSTIN, a California municipal corporation, (hereinafter
referred to as the " City"), and OFFICER TAYLOR RYAN hereinafter referred to as "
Officer Ryan"),
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, The City has determined that the City's Police Service Dog, "Ragnar"
is 5 -years -old, and after 5 years of service with the City's Police Department should be
retired on May 7, 2024; and
WHEREAS, Officer Ryan has been Ragnar's handler for 5 years of service with
the City's Police Department; and
WHEREAS, The City's Police Department has determined that given Ragnar's
age, his value as a police service dog has completely depreciated and that the ownership
of Ragnar should be transferred to Sergeant Ryan, who has expressed a desire to acquire
ownership of Ragnar; and
WHEREAS, in the absence of such transfer, the City would be responsible for the
continued care and maintenance of Ragnar;
NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:
Section 1: The City, as the owner of Ragnar, hereby determines to sell police
service dog Raganr to Sergeant Ryan, 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
Ragnar to Sergeant Ryan in return for the commitment of Sergeant Ryan to assume all
responsibility for the future care and maintenance of Ragnar.
Section 3: Sergeant Ryan 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 the 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 Ragnar on or after the
date of this Agreement.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 009D57E6-9ACB-4264-ADDC-CAF3F57A8588
ATTACHMENT NO. 1
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 Ragnar and that Sergeant Ryan shall be fully and solely
responsible therefore.
THIS AGREEMENT is entered into the date hereinabove written.
ATTEST:
By:
ERICA N. YASUDA
CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
DocuSigned by:
By: for
343ADCC695E946B.-
DAVID E. KENDIG
CITY ATTORNEY
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CITY OF TUSTIN
A
In
AUSTIN LUMBARD
MAYOR
TAYLOR RYAN
POLICE SERGEANT