Community rallies to keep a police K-9 with it's handler

Residents of the village of twin lakes are rallying behind a local officer, looking to keep his K9 partner after leaving the department.

PEOPLE IN TWIN LAKES ARERALLYING BEHIND A POLICEOFFICER AND HIS K9 AFTER THEVILLAGE BOARD DENIED THEOFFICERS REQUEST TO PURCHASETHE DOG.

ADRIANA MENDEZ SHOWSUS WHAT'S BEHIND THECONTROVERSY.Controversy here in Twin Lakesas community members attemptto keep a K9 officer and hishandler together.

FOR FOURYEARS OFFICER JOE PATLA AND K9OFFICER REX HAVE WORKEDTOGETHER SERVING TWIN LAKES ASTHE VILLAGE'S FIRST K9 TEAM.he is one of the top people inthis community and everybodyis devastated he is going tolose this dog after everythinghe has done in the communitywith Rex ON JUNE 17, OFFICERPATLA INFORMED THE POLICEDEPARTMENT HE WAS LEAVING FORANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.

OFFICERPATLA OFFERED TO PAY THEVILLAGE FOR K9 REX SO THE TWOCOULD STAY TOGETHER--- BUTTHAT DECISION WAS TURNED DOWNDURING A VILLAGE BOARD MEETINGTUESDAY NIGHT.wlearned frommany industryexpects that k9 Rex could infact be reassigned to a newhandler in the community andserve the community as he hasthe last 2 1/2 years POLICECHIEF ADAM GROSZ SAYS OFFICERPATLA SIGNED A CONTRACTSTATING IF HE LEAVES BEFORETHE CONTRACT EXPIRES, THE K9BECOMES PROPERTY OF THEVILLAGE.

THE CHIEF SAYSACCORDING TO INDUSTRY EXPERTSK9 REX STILL HAS YEARS SERVICETO GIVE.

According to all theexperts we have spoken to theysaid that's actually adisservice to the animalbecause he is a working animalhe is not a house pet and wasnot bread to be a house petand he really enjoys working ACHANGE.ORG PETITION IN SUPPORTOF OFFICER PATLA AND HASREACHED MORE THAN 66-HUNDREDSIGNATURES.

DANA PRESTININZISAYS SHE WOULD BE WILLING TOHELP RAISE FUNDS TO PURCHASE ANEW K9 IF IT MEANT KEEPINGTHESE PARTNERS TOGETHER.

Ijust think they need to dowhat's right, this is his dogand he has lived in his homeand he's raised him andtrained him and I think it'shard for a police officer,it's really his partner youknow K9 Rex will be turned intomorrow then sent to a K9training facility until a newhandler can be found, thechief says he already hasofficers interested.

OFFICERPATLA DECLINED TO COMMENT FORTHIS STORYReporting in twinlakes adriana mendez tmj4news.