TUPPER LAKE — It’s the end of an era for the village’s police department.

The Tupper Lake village board voted unanimously Monday, on recommendation from TLPD Chief Eric Proulx, to eliminate the department’s K-9 program. In doing so, ownership of “Dana” — TLPD’s 5-year-old German Shepard — was transferred to Sergeant Jordan Nason, who had been the department’s K-9 officer.

With Nason now the owner of Dana, Proulx said it’s up to him on what will happen next with the dog. In speaking with Nason before the board eliminated the program, Proulx believed the plan was to find another person or department that would be able to make use of Dana’s specialized training as a police dog.

“I know (Nason) has a lot of contacts throughout the state,” Proulx said. “It will be fine wherever it goes. I’m sure it will be utilized.”

Dana had been primarily used as a narcotics dog with the department, although it was also trained in aggression and searching for people who were lost or on the run. However, Proulx said staffing shortages made it difficult for the department to make use of the K-9 program.

The department’s long-standing staff shortage was made worse on Monday as Officer Zachery Rottier — who was hired by the village in early January — resigned, effective May 18. When asked by village Trustee Leon LeBlanc how long Rottier had been with TLPD, Proulx’s answer was short.

“Not long enough,” he said.

Rottier was hired as a police officer trainee with the Potsdam Police Department, according to the village of Potsdam Board of Trustees’ May 12 meeting minutes. His start date there was May 19.

“Due to the way we have to operate now (with) a lack of staffing, Sergeant Nason just doesn’t have the time to utilize the K-9 the way he used to,” Proulx said. “And (he) hasn’t been able to for the last few years.”

Funding

Proulx said that coinciding with the lack of staffing was the sunsetting of donation funding that had enabled TLPD to run its K-9 program. He added that the department currently does not have a suitable vehicle for K-9 transport.

“It would take the cost off of us,” he said. “It was going to cost us money now because the fundraising is not there anymore.”

Proulx said that the program was exclusively funded by donations and did not cost village taxpayers any money since its inception in 2016. Proulx said that, as it was a cost he never had to budget for, he was unsure how much the program cost to run on an annual basis.

Following the board’s vote to eliminate the program, village Mayor Mary Fontana thanked Dana for his service to the village.