Keeping police dog safe

Someone did a very nice thing recently by donating funds so that Faribault County could buy a protective vest for its police dog, Zeus. The $950 vests protect K9 dogs from gunfire and stabbings.

The donor has chosen to remain anonymous, but the act has not gone unnoticed. The whole man’s best friend thing is working in reverse in this case.

Police dogs are amazing, happy to help their handlers uncover narcotics or locate people. But they also can run into situations in which they are threatened. It’s good to know Zeus will be safer now.

Police deserve praise

Speaking of police work, it was reported this week that the Fairmont Police Department responded to 11 percent more calls in 2017, compared to the previous year. Our local officers deserve thanks and praise for what they do. Their workload includes a broad gamut of tasks and chores that officers training to become police probably never consider.

Police are on the front lines of dealing with the strangest of all creatures on the planet, namely their fellow human beings. They do so from a position of strength, but with caring and understanding.

System could be good

The Fairmont Public Utilities Commission is considering a “smart grid” system that would involve new or retrofitted utility meters with a module that could turn service on or off, as well as collect billing data, outage information or daily usage. The system also could reduce electricity demand during peak times. It could all be controlled remotely from an office.

For Fairmont, which has a head start given its use of Yukon software, the new system may be more a question of when than how. The PUC will consider the matter at its April 24 meeting. It certainly sounds like an investment that could be worthwhile.

Minnesota joins lawsuit

The Trump administration would like it if the nation’s laws were enforced. Or why have laws? But political opposition and the reality of millions of illegal immigrants are obstacles in enforcing immigration law. So the fight goes on, on different fronts.

One plan by the administration is to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census questionnaire. This has produced a backlash. Liberals worry about losing political power as well as federal funds that flow to communities based on their populations. So they are suing. Minnesota has joined in, because the state has an attorney general who is a Democrat. This is pure politics and a shame.