Community support is crucial to keeping the Gary Police Department’s K9 unit functioning, one police corporal said Tuesday.

“All the training, the price of a dog and the different types of equipment is a lot of money,” said Cpl. Anne Malinoff. “Having that support is amazing so we can continue to help our community.”

Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, on Tuesday, presented the Gary Police Department with $25,000 for its K9 unit. At the presentation, Malinoff introduced Phouka, the department’s newest K9 officer — a nearly two-year-old Belgian Malinois.

Malinoff and Phouka finished training school in June, she said Tuesday, and he’s certified in patrol, detection and officer protection, with specialized training in explosives and firearm detection.

Malinoff began to work with Phouka aft

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