Pictured on Wednesday, from left, are officers Erik Kraft and James Latimer, Rand President and CEO Kurt Grimm, Jamestown Police Chief Timothy Jackson, and Rand employees Cindy Foster and Mindie McCarthy. P-J photo by Eric Tichy

Money raised by an area manufacturing company has helped the Jamestown Police Department purchase a new K-9.

Officials with Rand Machine Products on Wednesday officially turned over a check for $8,500 to the police department specifically earmarked for the dog.

The Falconer company in February of last year announced the creation of a charitable foundation that would — among other projects to assist local police departments — help Jamestown add another K-9 to its ranks. It didn’t take long for the employee-driven foundation to breeze past its goal through a series of fundraisers and a match from Kurt Grimm, Rand president and CEO, and his partners.

“We’re very thankful to the enthusiasm that the people of Rand have shown because they’ve really just come up with a variety of ideas on how to raise money,” Grimm said Wednesday after the check was given to the police department. “They kind of keep that momentum going on their own at this point.”

To date, Grimm said the foundation at Rand has raised more than $17,000, with $8,500 going to JPD for the new K-9; funds will be used to help police with other needs as well, though details were still being worked out.

An 11-month-old Dutch shepherd was purchased March 1 and is currently in Syracuse for training. Named K-9 Grimm after Rand’s president and CEO, the dog’s handler will be James Latimer, a three-year veteran of the police department.

Additional training will include a 10-week patrol school for the pair and a six-week class for bomb detection. Once fully trained, K-9 Grimm can be utilized for tracking people, weapons and explosive materials, Latimer said.

“It makes the city safer all around,” he said, also thanking Rand for the donation. “We greatly appreciate it and it wouldn’t be possible without everything that they have done for us.”

Jamestown Police Chief Timothy Jackson agreed.

“It’s truly awesome that they did that,” Jackson said. “We definitely appreciate it and we can definitely use a dog during these times, a dog such as that.”

The police department currently has K-9 Kal and Hope, an emotional support dog.

Grimm noted that a fundraiser has been scheduled for Saturday, June 18, at the Chautauqua Golf Club that will also include a dinner and dance.