BOX ELDER, S.D. — According to the City of Box Elder Facebook page, the Box Elder Police Department announced during National Police Week that it received funding from the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office and the Attorney General’s Drug Control Fund to establish the department’s first drug detection K-9 unit.

The department said the funding will cover the purchase and training of a drug detection K-9, a handler, a vehicle and additional equipment. City officials said the new unit is intended to strengthen efforts to combat illegal drugs in Box Elder and surrounding areas.

Box Elder Police Chief Bob Connell said having the K-9 unit within the department will help increase efforts to combat illegal drugs in the City of Box Elder, Pennington County and Meade County. Connell also thanked the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Attorney General’s Office for helping make the program possible.

According to the social media post, the department received $93,000 in funding for the program.