K9 Chloe and Officer Wojo Debut New DARE Cruiser

A new Westerville Division of Police (WPD) allelectric vehicle is now on the road, with a special passenger. Officer Mark Wojciechowski (Officer Wojo) and WPD Therapy K9 Chloe debuted the new DARE cruiser in April.

After examining cruiser options and availability, the Tesla Model Y was selected for its price and K9-friendly features. In addition to being more affordable than the Ford Explorer cruiser often used by law enforcement, the Model Y offers a standard “Pet Mode,” allowing for cabin climate control that can be monitored from an app. Pet Mode can provide alert notifications if changes are detected, allowing Chloe to be checked from cruiser-installed cameras as needed.

The DARE car is the only Tesla-marked cruiser in the WPD fleet. In addition to its equipment, the Model Y was upfit for police duty at a considerable savings compared to previous K9 vehicles. As an all-electric vehicle, it also costs WPD less to operate and maintain compared to gas-powered options.

Chloe joined Officer Wojo, an 18-year WPD veteran who manages the DARE partnership with Westerville City Schools, in 2020. DARE officers are specially trained professionals who help students understand decision-making about living a safe and healthy lifestyle and saying no to drugs and substance abuse. Chloe is also trained for this mission, along with other duties including attending special events and offering comfort and support to those who have experienced traumatic events.

K9 Chloe poses next to the new DARE/Therapy K9 cruiser. The cruiser is in service now that the “pet mode” has been upfitted to the vehicle.