City officials: Bite training occurring elsewhere

The controversial dog bite training club that's drawn attention in Jefferson City has gone silent in the area, city officials say.

Jefferson City Police Chief Eric Wilde said the Smokin' Guns Working Dog Club, a Mid-Missouri-based group that teaches dogs obedience, agility, tricks, dock diving and bite work, hasn't been heard from since the city sent a cease-and-desist to prevent it from training on city parkland.

"We have not heard that they've been back in the city since that letter was sent out," Wilde told the Public Safety Committee during its regular monthly meeting Thursday morning. "They might be more active in other areas like Versailles, but we've not gotten word about their activities here."

City Attorney Ryan Moehlman said he had spoken with members of the group and that there had been no word on further activities in the area. He said the issue was the location rather than the training.

"It's less about the activity and more about its compatibility with our parks," Moehlman said. "Get a business license if that's what you want to do, find a private place to do it, but we don't think it's an activity that goes hand-in-hand with families having picnics, playing catch, that sort of thing."

The issue was raised earlier this month when veterinarians from the Weathered Rock Veterinary Clinic brought it to the City Council's attention, showing videos of the group training dogs near parks and with children present. They argued the use of parkland presented a public danger, while members of the group asserted bite work was a nationally-recognized canine sport.

The group's Facebook page lists recent events taking place in the Versailles area.

In other business, Wilde said the department is inching toward the implementation of body cameras for officers. The department is finalizing a draft of its policies for the U.S. Department of Justice, the final hurdle to access federal funds and sign a contract with a vendor for the equipment.

"I think once the formal federal process is finished, we'll be able to roll this out very quickly," Wilde said. "We've already got training protocols in place, so right now we're just waiting on that final mark, and we'll be ready to go."

He said the department would likely be ready to move forward by late spring. The equipment would be funded through an $180,000 grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance and $445,000 from the city budget.

He also noted a new K9 officer, Micky, is currently in training with its handler, Officer Paul Gash. The Jefferson City Missouri Police Foundation announced it would pay for the new dog after hearing of the loss of Gash's prior K9 officer, Drax, last month. Wilde said there had been an outpouring of support from all across the country and that, in the wake of the loss of a Kansas City police officer and K9 officer more recently, it was important to acknowledge the impact of these events on their communities.

Jefferson City Fire Chief Matthew Schofield said there was nothing to formally announce on the project, but the replacement of the department's burn building is making progress. The city has allocated $1 million to the effort to replace the 30-year-old training facility around Hyde Park, with $300,000 from Cole County thus far.

He also noted March 1 marks the end of the yard waste open-burning season for the city. City ordinance allows residents to burn small sticks, leaves, grass clippings and other yard waste from sunrise to sunset on owned property, but not trash. He said Jefferson City residents can drop off yard waste for free at the 2417 South Ridge Drive compost facility.

The next Public Safety Committee meeting is scheduled for March 30.