Haines Borough Police Dept. (Emily Files)

Haines Borough Public Safety Building. (Emily Files)

The Haines Assembly is not interested in adding a police dog to the force.

At a meeting this week, Assembly Member Heather Lende said financially, it would be a hard sell.

“To add something else, where they talk about basically a police dog as like another officer,” said Lende. “And it requires its own car, kennel, handler, all kind of rules. So to even look into more expenses until we figure out how to maintain the police department we have at the moment seems irresponsible.”

In April, the Public Safety Commission asked the assembly to explore the acquisition of a police dog.

The dog would be used to help intercept drugs entering the community.

Through preliminary research, borough staff identified possible grant funding.

But, the assembly voted against directing the staff to continue researching the efficacy of a police dog for drug enforcement.