The streets of Lathrop will soon be patrolled by a pair of fuzzy new officers.

And a third is on the way.

In the last week the Lathrop Police Department has congratulated two K9 handlers – officers Elliott and Sabou – for graduating from K9 Handlers School.

Elliott’s dog, Kane, and Sabou’s dog, Jackie, will help provide additional resources to the department and to the community and once fully deployed will free up the Manteca Police Department’s K9 unit that has been assisting on calls for mutual aid.

Back in September the Lathrop City Council agreed to hire an additional K9 handler and purchase the specialized dog and fund the training so that there could be a K9 deployed to each of the three shifts – morning, swing, and graveyard.

The department that was launched on July 1 with 35 sworn officers is already in the process of expanding its force by even officers.

That means before the end of the fiscal year on June 30 Lathrop will not only started a new police force from scratch but will also have increased its presence on the streets by 20 percent.

To contact Bulletin reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249