In the first year of having drug dogs in River Falls, the town added a total of $25,912 to its coffers.

Town Clerk Maryann Andrews said that the town collected a total of $83,320 in 2015, which is up from $57,408 in 2014.

In November 2014, River Falls Police Chief Greg Jackson asked for permission to purchase two drug dogs – Coco and Sabbath.

The council requested a month to think about the purchase, which was eventually approved in a 3-1 vote.

Council members Mattie Freeney, Robert Clark and Richard Bowden voted for the purchase, while Cleve Harris voted against it. Gary Wages was absent from the meeting, after previously stating he did not support the purchase.

The dogs were purchased directly from the drug seizure fund, which Jackson cannot spend on anything except equipment.

Sheriff Dennis Meeks also donated a cage for officer Kyle Adams’ Crown Victoria.

Jackson said he feels the dogs are great assets to the town, especially with the amount of drug activity the town sees.

“We are on two major corridors,” he said. “We make the most drug arrests.”

In March, Jackson arrested Mississippi State’s star wide receiver De’Runnya Wilson, 20, and three others for drug possession.

Andrews said in 2015, the town had eight people plead guilty to possession of marijuana and had 56 cases that utilized the pre-trial diversion program.

In 2014, there were 45 guilty cases and only nine who utilized the pre-trial diversion program.

Freeney, who has been an avid supporter of the dogs was pleased with the results.

“The intention in getting the dogs was to make sure that we did all we could to keep the drugs out of the town,” she said. “I’m thankful that we have them. Hopefully, we won’t need them in the very near future. They are actually paying for themselves.”