Thanks to the continued generous donations of businesses and individuals throughout the region, the AMSOIL Northland Law Enforcement K-9 Foundation has been able to expand to support another police K-9 program.
The Virginia Police Department is now the sixth law enforcement agency to be part of the K-9 Foundation, and Deputy Chief Chad Nickila has joined the Board of Directors.
The Virginia Police Department currently has one K-9 team – Officer Nick Grivna and K-9 Teddy, a nine-year-old German Shepherd who is certified in narcotics detection and patrol capabilities. The team has worked together since 2017.
“We are excited to be able to support the Virginia Police Department,” said
Robbin Champaigne, president of the K-9 Foundation Board of Directors. “It’s
always been our vision that we would be financially able to expand and support
more law enforcement agencies’ K-9 programs throughout Douglas and St. Louis
County. We are all safer thanks to the work of law enforcement K-9s."
“We are grateful to be able to be part of such a great organization,” said Virginia
Police Chief Nicole Mattson. “K-9s do so much to keep our citizens and our officers safe, but they are an expensive investment. And as we do our best to trim our budget wherever possible, it’s wonderful to have the Foundation’s support to ensure we can maintain a K-9 team into the future.”
This is only the second time the K-9 Foundation has added a new department. The Foundation originally incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2013 to serve the Duluth and Superior Police Departments and the Douglas County and St. Louis County Sheriff’s Offices. The Hermantown Police Department was added in 2017.
Donations to the K-9 Foundation are tax deductible and may be designated for the general fund to be used where needed most, or can be ear-marked for a specific agency. To learn more about the AMSOIL Northland Law Enforcement K-9 Foundation or to donate, visit northlandk9.org or facebook.com/northlandk9.