01-28-19 Regular Meeting of the La Porte City Council

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City of La Porte —Council Meeting January 28, 2019 Retirement of La Porte Police K9 Sylvester Officer Michael Harness and his K9 partner Sylvester, were first introduced to one another in September of 2013. The two immediately formed an inseparable bond. After attending three weeks of training at the Harris County Sheriff's Office in October of 2013, Officer Harness became a certified K9 handler and K9 Sylvester was certified as a narcotic detector dog through the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association (NNDDA). Officer Harness and Sylvester hit the streets of La Porte together as a team in November of 2013, primarily patrolling during the night shift hours. During their five and a half years together, Officer Harness and Sylvester made 760 total arrests. These arrests consisted of 389 Harris County charges ranging from Class B Misdemeanors all the way to First Degree Felonies. Of these charges, 85 were for possession of illegal narcotics ranging from Marijuana, Ecstasy, Methamphetamine, Heroin, and Cocaine. Officer Harness and Sylvester are credited with the seizure of numerous firearms. Many of these weapons are associated with the possession and sale of illegal narcotics found on the streets of La Porte. Last year Officer Harness and K9 Sylvester earned an 8th place finish in the individual event at the NNDDA National Competition in Amarillo, Texas. They also partnered with La Porte's other K9 team and won 1st place K9 team overall. K9 Sylvester showed that the countless hours of training paved the way for his success and the success of the La Porte K9 unit. K9 Sylvester is now eight years old and looks forward to his well-earned retirement. Sylvester will get to spend his remaining years, in his fur -ever home with Officer Harness and his family. His remaining years will be spent taking leisurely walks and playing with toys, like normal pets. Both the La Porte Police Department and the community we serve are in debt to Sylvester for many years of outstanding service. Meanwhile, LPPD continues to deploy one other active K-9 team. The department has named the next K9 Officer to follow in Officer Harness' footsteps and is in the process of selecting Sylvester's replacement. 3001 N. 23rd Street. n LaPorte, Texas 77571 m (281) 471-3810 m www.laportetx.gov