Staff writer
Marion Police Department’s drug dog has a set of new wheels.
His 2011 Chevy Tahoe gives both Legion and his handler, Sgt. Mike Stone, more room. It also gives Stone room to stow needed equipment in about two feet of the vehicle’s cargo area instead of having to stuff everything into a trunk.
The fact that the rear seating area is partitioned off with the left half for Legion, whose cage runs front-to-back, and the right half the bench seat available to carry a prisoner, puts an arrestee in the back seat instead of alongside Stone.
“I’m glad to have the vehicle because there’s more room,” Stone said. “All the items that we need on a daily basis simply wouldn’t fit in a trunk.”
Police chief Tyler Mermis said the cage for Legion was donated by another law enforcement agency.
“That agency wanted to remain anonymous,” Mermis said. “It’s an agency we work closely with.”
The Tahoe was bought entirely with seizure funds. No public money was used for the $19,000 purchase.
It came already equipped with light bar and sirens.