CHILDREN TO NAME POLICE DRUG DOG

School children will be asked to help name a drug dog purchased by the
Philadelphia Police Department.

The dog, a Czech shepherd breed, was bought Aug. 20, a day after the Mayor
and Board of Aldermen approved the purchase in a regular meeting.

The $6,000 purchase was made with funds confiscated through drug arrests
within the past year, said Philadelphia Police Chief David Edwards.

An officer already on staff will be assigned as the dog's handler, he said.

"The city did not have to spend any funds from its budget and this will
simply be another tool in the war against drugs," Edwards said.

The drug dog will be trained in skills including detection of drugs,
tracking and protection of officers and will be kept at an undisclosed
residence, the chief said. The dog was purchased through Southern
Mississippi Canine Consultants in Petal.

The city expects to actually bring the dog to Philadelphia after completion
of its training which is expected to take about 10 weeks. Afterwards,
Philadelphia officer Josh Burt will train with the dog for four weeks
before bringing the dog to his new home.

Edwards said the purchase was in line with many departments which have
purchased drug dogs because of increased challenges in fighting drug
trafficking. The department, he said, has considered the purchase for about
a year.

"It is getting harder and harder to find drugs in vehicles and other
places," Edwards said. "Suspects are finding more and more places to hide
drugs from us."

Edwards said this will be the second drug dog the city has had, to his
knowledge, and it will be available to the department 24 hours a day. The
dog will also be considered a police officer with a badge and number all
his own, the chief said. Such designation he said protects the dog like any
officer.

"It is a felony in this state to kill a drug dog," Edwards said. "It is the
same as attacking a police officer."

The dog will also be available for public demonstrations and school programs.

"He will be trained to be comfortable around people including children,"
Edwards said. "We would not have a drug dog that could not be around children."

Edwards is considering coordinating a contest where school children could
get a chance to suggest names for the dog. The details are still being
worked out on that, he said.

In other matters, the board took the following actions:

. Approved shifting of funds between accounts through budget amendments.

. Approved a refund of $100.13 to Emily Deaton for tax sale.

. Approved payment of claims for James Johnson for travel, $120; Waggoner
Engineering, $3,060.85; and Joe Lusteck, $3,552.50.

. Declared as surplus a 1999 Crown Victoria vehicle.

. Approved municipal court clerk to attend fall clinic Sept. 10-12 and to
pay costs.

. Approved $7,000 as a 25 percent matching funds grant for construction of
walking trails in the neighborhood of Booker T. School. Park Director Chris
Burt said the trails would be three-eighths of a mile to be constructed
within two years. The grant, providing $28,000, was made available through
the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

"There is still a lot we are working on in getting details for the
project," Burt said.

. Accepted $16,970 in state matching funds to place with $152,736 in
federal funds for airport improvements.

. Designated Fire Chief Kenneth Coleman as the city's homeland security
coordinator.

. Appointed Sue Ellen Smith to the Philadelphia Park Commission to fill the
unexpired term of Alice Clark until March 2006.

. Approved temporary closure of Center Avenue in preparation for Autumnfest
activities from 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, to midnight, Saturday, Sept. 13.