$3,000 from Wal-Mart fills budget hole for Black Diamond Police

The Black Diamond Police Department’s K-9 unit can continue, thanks to a donation of $3,000 from Wal-Mart.

Metropolitan King County Councilman Reagan Dunn, whose district includes Black Diamond, helped arrange the contribution after hearing from officer Kris Chatterson that the city couldn’t cover the costs through the end of the year related to Sabre, the police dog. Sabre’s primary responsibility on the police force is to help in searches for illegal drugs.

The county, with its funds committed to other purposes, couldn’t help financially, Dunn said. But he directed Chatterson to Wal-Mart, which makes donations to non-profit causes.

“We’re pleased to be able to help. Protecting children and families in communities is extremely important to us,” said Don Roseborough, Wal-Mart’s marketing manager. He formally presented the donation June 17 to Chatterson, who had Sabre at his side.

Dunn, noting his experience as a federal prosecutor before becoming a council member, said he has “seen first-hand what drugs do to the community. I’m pleased that Wal-Mart decided to fund this important program.”

He said Black Diamond “has struggled for years with methamphetamine problems” and is taking “pro-active” steps to combat the drug.

In 2006, the Pierce County Humane Society donated Sabre, a Labrador retriever, to Black Diamond. Chatterson and the dog trained to become a K-9 unit.

“Over the past 11 years, I have personally witnessed the destruction that illegal drugs are doing to our community,” Chatterson said. “The K-9 program enables us to intervene earlier and detect the drugs before they can destroy families. A dog’s sense of smell is thousands of times sharper than a human’s and is a powerful tool in this fight.”