News : Two wheels & four legs: Vinton PD seeks to add K-9, bike patrols

Vinton Police Chief Ted Paxton updated the Vinton City Council on two new programs he hopes to put in place this year.

The Chief said during the council meeting that the department will present information to the council about the police dog program during its Feb. 25 meeting.

“We have an officer who has prepared a Power Point presentation,” Paxton said. The chief said he would leave most of the details for the officer to present next month, but did answer one question about the type of K-9 program under consideration. The dog, he said, would be multi-purpose, trained in drug detection, as well as officer protection.

The Vinton Kiwanis Club recently heard a presentation about that program.

Also, said the chief, he has officers interested in starting a bicycle patrol.

“This would offer a more personal type of patrol,” he said, adding that the officers on bikes could patrol trails as well as streets.