HUNTINGTON BEACH : City Votes to Buy a New Police Dog

Amid more tributes to Kim, a police dog killed in the line of duty last month, the City Council on Monday unanimously voted to buy a replacement for the dog.

The council, at a special session, approved spending $9,500 to purchase and train a German shepherd imported from Germany. About $5,500 would be used for purchasing the dog, and the rest would go for training costs.

The $9,500 will come from money seized from drug dealers. State and federal laws allow cities to seize assets of convicted drug traffickers, and such funds are usually spent for law enforcement purposes.

Police Chief Ronald E. Lowenberg told the council that the city’s police canine unit, which now has three dogs, was seriously impaired by Kim’s slaying.

“By purchasing and training the dog immediately,” Lowenberg said, “the canine and handler will be available for the summer deployment period--historically the busiest time of the year for the Police Department.”

Kim was killed May 26 as the animal chased a man fleeing police after being stopped on suspicion of a traffic violation. The suspect, Nick Spagnolo, 37, allegedly stabbed the dog with a knife. Spagnolo has been charged with killing a police dog, evading arrest and reckless driving.

Kim’s handler, Officer Jim Weaver, has praised the dog’s response, saying: “I feel he saved my life.” The dog’s ashes were buried during a formal police ceremony earlier this month.