Officer Chastain and Turbo

Our first Baker City K9 Classic golf tournament, to help raise funds for the K9 program, was held on June 2, 2007.  The golf tournament was a great success.  The first annual Baker City K9 Classic Golf Tournament will be held on June 7, 2008.  This golf tournament is planned as an annual event to continue raising funds to help support and possible expand the drug dog program.

In October, 2007 the Baker City Police Department Drug K9 program went into operation.  Officer Chastain and his K9, Turbo, started patrolling the streets of Baker City after being certified through the Pacific Northwest Police Detection Dogs Association. 

Officer Chastain and Turbo are the only drug detection dog team in Baker County.  So far they have been used by the Oregon State Police, Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Baker County Parole & Probation and the Baker City Police Department for vehicle searches and search warrants.  Two school districts have also had Turbo search schools for drugs.

As with most places in the United States, drugs have had a huge negative impact on society and our children.  Having a drug detection dog is making an impact.  Turbo has found hidden Methamphetamine and Marijuana, which more than likely would not have been found.  This led to arrests.  Turbo found drugs in the residence of a person on probation – Yes, the guy went to jail.  During a recent traffic stop the officer obtained consent to search the vehicle.  When Turbo was taken out of the police car, the driver said “I didn’t know you were going to use the dog.”