Alpharetta Public Safety Foundation News
The Alpharetta Police Department is very fortunate because we have an external organization involved in supplying its public safety personnel with equipment and funds which may not always be available through City resources. The Alpharetta Public Safety Foundation has been instrumental in supplying officers with equipment needs as well as assisting officers in their times of need. We as officers appreciate this organization and all the dedication it takes to keep it growing.
The Alpharetta Department of Public Safety K-9 Unit is comprised of 4 dogs and handlers. Each dog team is assigned to a squad allowing the availability of K-9 assistance 24/7. When Officer Mike Schulman joined the K-9 unit in 2006, he received his first partner, Chicko. He quickly learned the dedication, and time it takes to form a bond with his dog. As we all know, they work with these K-9 partners day in and day out. The K-9 partners go to work with them, go home with them, and share in their families’ daily lives. As you can imagine, this quickly forms an amazing bond that few people truly get to experience. They put their K-9 partners as well as themselves in harms way on a daily basis, and this dedication truly cements that bond. So many officers depend on the assistance of these dogs, and each day these dogs can't wait to come into work.
When Chicko retired and soon after passed away, Officer Schulman quickly learned just how importantthat dog was to his daily life. It’s truly like losing a family member. You cannot be a K-9 handler and not have a love for dogs. After Capt. Dier's dog Lim passed away, the K-9 Unit came together and purchased him a shadow box to remember him. This really meant a lot to him, and each day it reminds him of the bond they shared.
After seeing how the Public Safety Foundation helped other officers, Officer Schulman proposed a program whereupon when a police dog retires, the handler would be presented with a shadow box which they could keep as a constant reminder oftheir partner. Once the K-9 passed away, the handler would then be presented with a laser etched urn to properly store their dog's ashes. This was a very unique request, but the Public Safety Foundation was extremely supportive and authorized approval. The Alpharetta Department of Public Safety K-9 Unit would like to thank the Alpharetta Public Safety Foundation for all of their support. There collective efforts allow officers to receive a memento of their partner, which otherwise, they would be unable to afford.
K9 Presentation Photos
