Sauk Rapids Is Adding A Police Officer, Getting A New Police Dog

SAUK RAPIDS - The Sauk Rapids police department is adding a new officer to the force. Chief Perry Beise says the city council has put money in the city's budget for the extra officer, bringing the number of sworn officers up to 15. It will be the most officers Sauk Rapids has ever had.

Beise says he wants to do more with community outreach programs.

We don't do a PAL program, we don't have an active crime prevention program, we do all those things with our current police officers.

Beise says he's hoping to have the new position filled by the end of next month.

Meanwhile, A familiar face in the Sauk Rapids police department is retiring. Beise says police dog "Storm" is calling it a career.

He's the last dog out of his class that is still working. He's 11 or 12 years old. And he's just like when we all get a little older our joints get a little stiff and we get a little tired and it's time to retire.

Beise says Storm will live with his handler Sergeant Brent Bukowski.

His replacement, "Thunder", is already going through training. Officer Matt Bosma will be his handler. It costs $13,500 to buy and train a police dog. Thunder is about half paid for.