Hardin Co. Sheriff's Office hoping to add a K-9 with the help of a new local organization

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) -- Police departments need a specialist to help sniff out illegal drugs and track missing people, but the special units don't come cheap.

"I feel that we can better serve the citizens of Hardin County with a dog," said Hardin County Sheriff John Ward.

He says he'd like to get a dual purpose police dog, but adding a K-9 unit to his team is just not in the budget. That's where 'Cops with Paws' comes in. The organization's goal is to raise enough money to handle the costs.

"It can cost between probably $12,000 to $17,000 to get a good, trained, certified dog -- to certify the dog and the handler together -- to outfit the cruiser to accommodate the K-9," said founder Denise Elliott.

Elliott, who lives in Radcliff, says she started the effort about four months ago.

"It's actually something I've had an interest for probably the last couple of years," she said. "I have a couple of German Shepherds. I love working dogs. I've seen what they did in Iraq when I worked there as a civilian."

She says the Hardin County Sheriff's Office is the first agency she plans to help.

Elliott hopes several events like races, concerts and silent auctions will help raise enough money to get the K-9 there by late summer or early fall.

"They're the first project," Elliott said. "A couple of other agencies have already heard about it in the local area, have come forward, expressed interest in getting dog."

Sheriff Ward says he's prepared to take in the new member. He tells us someone working for the sheriff's office used to be a K-9 officer with the military police.

"He's already trained and he's ready to go to work," Ward said. "We just need to get a dog."

More: Closeup look at how police K-9 units are trained