Deputy Dan Wachowiak, K-9 Baco and Sheriff John Charewicz. (Contributed photo)

By Patrick Lynn

Area residents helped raise over $2,000 for the Portage Co. K-9 unit during a fund- raiser at Copps Food Center in Stevens Point earlier this month. Copps employee Dan Eiden, who works in the deli, helped organize the event, which included raffle giveaways, Kemps ice cream and a visit from Baco, one of the county’s K-9 dogs.

“This was such a good thing because people probably don’t get a chance to see the po- lice very much un-less they’re in some kind of trouble,” Eiden said.

“I hate to say it, but yeah, too many times the only interaction people have with cops is when they get a speeding ticket,” said Deputy Dan Wacho- wiak, Baco’s handler. “The overwhelming contact with people is a traffic stop, and it’s kind of like a punch in the mouth because it kind of makes me the bad guy. But to do this kind of an event, with Baco, I mean, people realized I was a person. I have a wife and a kid. That gives it a smoother, more rounded look at us being regular people who can joke around. So that was just a great experience to have.”

Wachowiak said residents of all ages donated- even those who didn’t buy a raffle ticket. Care for the dogs is paid for solely through donations, he added.

Additional fund- raising events, Wachowiak said, also have been scheduled on Friday nights at Wendy’s on Highway 10 East, which will feature vintage and race cars on display in the parking lot at 6 PM throughout the summer.