Officer Ybarra & Partner Eli Take To the Streets Of Coalinga
In May 2018, the Coalinga PD K9 Supporters were formed and began raising money with a goal to purchase a police K9 for the Coalinga Police Departmen
t. During the next year the Coalinga PD K9 Supporters accepted donations, sold shirts and stickers. They sold tamales, and on April 26, 2019, held their first annual Coalinga PD K9 Supporter dinner which drew about 150 people.
By the time of the annual dinner the K9 supporters had raised $28,137.00. The group received a $5,000.00 donation from Have A Heart, $500.00 from the Scholarship Alliance Foundation and the police department was awarded a $2,500.00 grant from the National Police Canine Foundation. The vehicle equipment for Eli was purchased and installed by Code 3 I.T. out of Mojave, Ca.
During the April 26, 2019 dinner event, Officer Francisco Ybarra was introduced as the Coalinga Police Department’s new K9 handler and received his new partner “Eli”, who was purchased from Law Dogs K9, owned by Mark Sotelo. Since the dinner, Officer Ybarra and Eli have been bonding and attending weekly training. Eli has been POST certified for Patrol and is set to receive his Narcotics certification today.
On June 30, 2019, Officer Ybarra and his partner Eli took to the streets on their first day together patrolling the streets of Coalinga as partners. (I) Chief Darren Blevins welcomes the duo and wishes them the very best and long career together. The department first started their canine program back in late 90’s with Canine Officer’s Dan Lee and his partner “Bo” and Officer Brad Dorr with his partner’s “Oden” who was retired due to medical issues at which time Officer Dorr was partnered with Rex”.
The department went without a canine officer for the past five years and due to the hard work and dedication of the Coalinga PD K9 Supporters we have the program back. (I) Chief Blevins would like to thank all the citizens who donated to the program, the local companies as well as Glenn Mitchell with the Coalinga Community Foundation. I would like to give a big thanks to Coalinga PD K9 Supporters board Carol Morrow, Teri Yanez, Suzy Blevins and Councilman Adam Adkisson for all their hard work and dedication to the program.
