Ohio Police K-9 unit gets a customized X3

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Hilliard, OH – September 12, 2007… The Police Department K-9 Unit in Hilliard, Ohio will fight crime in a brand new patrol vehicle – a customized 2007 BMW X3 – it was announced today by BMW Group Financial Services during an official donation ceremony held at its national Customer Service Center in Hilliard, Ohio. Joined by Hilliard Mayor Don Schonhardt, BMW FS presented the $50,000 vehicle to Hilliard Police Chief Rodney Garnett and the Hilliard Police K-9 Unit, underscoring the company’s support of the community, the Hilliard Police Department and the K-9 Unit’s successful crime fighting record.
Since 2005 the K-9 Unit has been responsible for the arrests of more than 70 people, charged with 92 crimes. The Unit includes Officer Jim Large and Brix – a four-year-old, 68-pound Belgian Malinois who arrived in the U.S. from the Netherlands in June 2005. State-certified as a Dual Purpose Police Service K-9, Brix is the first police K-9 for the City of Hilliard. The duo’s primary duties include building and area searches, evidence location, criminal apprehension and narcotics detection.

“We are pleased to recognize the second anniversary of the Hilliard Police K-9 Unit with a new patrol vehicle, and we’re confident this specially-outfitted BMW X3 will provide the superior performance capability, accessibility and maneuverability required to effectively get the job done,” said Sanjay Chhabria, Vice President of Operations for BMW Financial Services. “BMW Financial Services is committed to supporting the local community through endeavors such as this. We congratulate both Officer Large and Brix on their outstanding work thus far, and we wish the entire Hilliard Police Department much continued success in protecting the citizens of Hilliard.”

Adorned with easily identifiable Hilliard Police Department and special K-9 Unit decals, the silver, all-new BMW X3 has been custom-outfitted to include traditional patrol car roof lighting, a K-9 cage and special door latches which may be remotely operated to allow for the K-9’s swift departure from the vehicle in the event of an emergency. Since the inception of the K-9 Unit, its patrol vehicle has often been an effective crime deterrent, causing many criminals to surrender, even before the police K-9 has exited the car.

To help transform the traditional BMW X3 into an official patrol vehicle that is both K-9- and criminal-ready, BMW Financial Services was joined by several local organizations – including Achbach Automotive, Inc., Auto Additions and Statewide Emergency Products – which eagerly donated their services. Widely championed in the community, the K-9 Unit was originally established and continues to be funded through financial donations from local businesses and other organizations, several of which have opened their doors to provide training locations for the K-9 Unit. Many local schools have also fundraised extensively in order to supply the K-9 Unit with added safety equipment.