Woodville’s new police dog arrives Thursday

2/13/2013

WOODVILLE — A new police dog soon will start work with the Woodville police department.

The Dutch shepherd dog from Belgium named Raider is scheduled to arrive in Detroit Thursday and begin training with Lone Wolf K-9 Inc. in McClure, Ohio.

The dog will join Woodville police officer Steve Gilkerson on duty by early summer.

Police Chief Roy Whitehead said the dog and the training will cost about $10,000. Individual and business donations raised $6,000 so far, and the department continues to seek funding. Raider will be trained to help with drug sniffing, tracking, and patrol, Chief Whitehead said.

The department has been without a dog since 2006 and has relied on dogs from nearby police forces during that time.