Cedar Rapids Police hold fundraiser, public outreach event for K9 unit

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - The Cedar Rapids Police Department held an event on Saturday where people could pet one of the department’s K9 units as well as purchase plush dolls of some of the CRPD’s dogs.

The event was held at the 16th Street SW Theisen’s, moving from its previous location at Pet’s Playhouse due to the number of people expected to show up.

Visitors were able to pet Corsa, one of seven dogs on the Cedar Rapids Police force and the only one with a background in searching for explosives.

Officer Shawn Hall, a K9 officer, said that the event provided a positive way to interact with the police.

“These dogs love meeting the people, they’re very social. They are not mean, they’re not malicious, they don’t have any ill intent. They’re just happy to be here and happy to do their job,” Hall said. “I think that’s similar to what we as law enforcement are. We’re happy to do our job, we have no ill intent, we’re not malicious. We’re good people, we’re human beings so it gives us an opportunity to interact with the public as well.”

This fundraiser also helps other local departments pay for training their dogs.

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