In April 2014, The Hurricane City Police Department started its K9 Program and in September of 2018, we added one of our current K9 teams, Riko a Belgian Malinois German Shepherd mix, and Officer Eric Demille. They are certified in Patrol and Narcotics work.

The K9 Program has proven to be a great tool in the detection and apprehension of Narcotics helping to keep drugs out of our community.

The K9 Program takes a dedicated officer due to the ongoing training required (eight hours a week) and annual recertification. The K9 Program also requires ongoing funding in order to have the necessary equipment to effectively operate. The Hurricane City Police Department appreciates the many generous donors that have invested or supported the K9 program over the last year. These donors include Bone Appetite, Desert Vet, Because Animals Matter (B.A.M), Schweikert K9 Inc., We Ride to Provide, Tractor Supply, Scholtzen Products, Gem Distributing, Georges Concrete Pumping, and Hurricane City Streets Department. If you are interested in donating to the Hurricane City Police K9 Program please contact our office.

The Hurricane City Police Department has 3 assigned School Resource Officers.  These Officers are assigned to Hurricane High School, Hurricane Middle School and Hurricane Intermediate School where they each have an office.  Each Officer is also responsible and regularly works with one of the following, Hurricane Elementary, Three Falls Elementary and Valley Academy.  These Officers go through Nationally accredited training on their new responsibilities working in the schools.  They work with the school administrators in developing/updating safety plans for their specific schools.  The DARE program is taught to our 5th grade classes throughout the city and these School Resource Officers are certified to teach this to the students as well.

SHOP WITH A COP EVENTS

Christmas Shop with a Cop

Each year First Responders from around Washington County team up to help underprivileged children in the area have a little brighter Christmas. Children ages 5 and up are selected for participation through the KONY Coins for Kids program. Officers from nearly every law enforcement and public safety agency in Washington County have volunteered to pair up with a child for the annual before-Christmas shopping event. Each child receives $200 to spend on gifts.

 Officers enjoy a fun-filled morning generally in early to mid December.  They meet up at the Hurricane High School for a brief breakfast while getting acquainted with the Officer they will be hanging out with the rest of the morning.   From there they get to hop into a patrol car/truck and see all the cool things inside.  Most kids love the chance that Officers give them to use the lights and siren.  Hurricane Officers then file out in a massive line of lit up patrol cars onto State Street and over to Wal-Mart for the shopping to commence.  While at Wal-Mart in addition to shopping an especially jolly visitor wearing a bright red suit will make a visit and take pictures with the Kids and their new Cop friends.   

Officers then stroll the aisles of the store with the kids to find gifts and toys of the child's choosing.  It is such a wonderful event that the kids and Officers alike have so many positive experiences.  It is an opportunity for the kids to get to know Officers in a different light and for the Officers to make some new young friends.

Officers from the Hurricane Police Department assist approximately 50 children each year from Hurricane and other outlying cities.  Donations come from Hurricane City, Hurricane Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart Distribution 6029, along with many many donations from private citizens and businesses in our community! We can not thank these businesses and citizens enough for their support of this program.

Among the agencies assisting children during the Shop with a Cop event are:

• Adult Probation and Parole
• Bureau of Land Management
• Federal Bureau of Investigations
• Hurricane Fire Department
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• St George Communications Center
• U.S. Federal Marshall's Office
• U.S. Forest Service
• Utah Highway Patrol
• Utah State Parks
• Washington County Sheriff's Office
• Zion National Park
• Hurricane Police Department

Back to School Shop with a Cop

Starting in 2019 Hurricane City Police Department began using some of our Shop with a Cop donations to get kids off to a fresh start for the upcoming school year.  The elementary schools within Hurricane City boundaries submit names of students in need.  We then take the approximately 30 kids each year to get new school clothes, shoes and backpacks.  We have worked with Kohl's who open their doors early for the Officers and kids to have the store to themselves to get the shopping done.  

This has been a very successful event so far in the first couple years and we look forward to it being a tradition that will continue for years to come!

Participating Departments have included:

• Hurricane City Police Department
• Hurricane Valley Fire Department
• Utah State Parks
• St George Communications Center