ROTHSCHILD, WI (WSAU) — A local police department is holding an event to introduce it’s new community program sponsored by local charities.
On Thursday morning the Rothschild Police Department will announce it’s new program, “K-9’s for the Community” sponsored by Forrest Goetsch Charities Inc. and K-tech Charities Inc. The program allows the police department to purchase two K-9’s for the department.
Rothschild Police Chief Jeremy Hunt says the two German Short Haired Pointers will have a variety of duties out in the community. “The dogs will be used for tracking of individuals, drug detection. And we also have a DARE program with a school liaison officer.
“The dogs will be used in the schools to help out situations in the schools and relate with the kids, get to tell their story because there’s a story behind each one of these dogs and how they’re named.”
The story behind the dog’s names is one to honor lost community members. The dogs will be named Forrest and Katie in honor of Forrest Goetsch and Katie Brodjieski, two kids that passed away at young ages from medical-related incidents in Marathon County in the 2000s.
Hunt says the names for the dogs came about from the Department’s partnership with two local charities that have personal connections with the two children and their legacies. “Well the Rothschild Police Department was looking to get a K-9.
“And immediately I thought of Steve Goetsch and the Forrest Goetsch charity. We had a conversation and it pretty much stemmed from that conversation where we were gonna name the dog after Forrest.
“And during these conversations, Craig Kersemeier from K-tech Charities came on board. And was able to assist us with adding the other dog and the name of Katie came up. And that would be a relation to him, so that’s really how it came forward.”
The partnership with the two charities will pay for the purchase cost of the two new K-9’s, but support is needed for the dog’s care, medical, and equipment expenses. The Police Department has set up a GoFundMe page to raise the additional funds needed for Forrest and Katie.
The dog’s will join the Police Department in August of 2021 and in March of 2022 after they complete their K-9 training. A presentation on the new program will be held at K-tech Kleening in Weston at 9:30 on Wednesday morning along with the dedication of two new squad cars.
