By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
An idea born in a Bellmont High School business class has caught fire, directly benefiting Koda, the Decatur Police Department’s K9 officer.
Now available for purchase is a high-quality, plush version of K9 Koda, complete with DPD vest and collar.
It’s called a Kozy Koda fundraiser and proceeds will support Koda’s fund, which helps provide for his food, equipment, and ongoing training.
Koda has become highly popular with students at Bellmont, where he spends his days with School Resource Officer (RSO) Andrew Elwell.
Koda’s mission, the police department says, is “safety and detection work.”
The “plushies” are available at the police station on Seventh St. (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and at the high school. They price tag is $20, but “those who wish to donate more than $20 are welcome and greatly appreciated,” the PD says.
Elwell gave details of the fundraiser to city council Tuesday night, noting that Koda “is an absolute valuable asset to our school and to our community.”
He said 100 of the plush dogs have been ordered and the student fundraiser “has been positively received.
“To see these students step up is wonderful,” Elwell added.
ALL FOR IT: “I pitched it to them and they were all for it,” said Bryan Lineberry, instructor for the Principles of Business Management Class at Bellmont High.
A total of 18 students, mostly sophomores but a few seniors, make up the class.
“I said we could do it as a business, market it, give it a name, sell it, etc. and they wanted to do it,” Lineberry said.
“I told them we could sit around and talk about it or we could just do it; they were ready to go,
“We pitched it to officer Elwell and he was all for it.”
The fundraiser idea quickly went up the PD chain of command and got a green light.
Lineberry, who has been at BHS for 14 years, said his class is partnering with students in a marketing class.
His business students, Lineberry said, “are a great of kids; they really are.”
GOING FAST: Anyone wishing to purchase a Kozy Koda should get it done soon.
“We’ve just started selling them and they are about half gone already,” Lineberry said Wednesday.
It may be that another 100 will be purchased, he added.
For more information on the project the following website was built by the students: https://sites.google.com/view/kozykodak9/home
“K9 Koda and Officer Elwell sincerely thank our incredible community for its continued support,” the police department said.
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