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A quilt was presented to the Dublin Police Department in honor of Cindy, a former K-9 officer who died in 2023. Police Chief Cameron Ray and Sergeant Khris Jennings, who was Cindy’s partner, accepted the quilt. Paul Gaudette | Citizen staff photo -
A sketch of a Dublin Police Car along with K-9 Officer Cindy is featured on a handmade quilt made by Peggy DeLaVergne, dedicated to the PD in honor of the K-9’s service. Paul Gaudette | Citizen staff photo
A special presentation was made in honor of a fallen four-legged officer during Monday night’s regular meeting of the Dublin City Council, which ended abruptly before all business could be handled.
One of the council members excused himself early due to a family emergency and since only three were in attendance (Orion Gallagher, Keegan McInroe and Darren Turley), the meeting ended at his departure due to a lack of quorum.
Another meeting is scheduled on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 6 p.m.
Peggy DeLaVergne was on hand Monday to present a quilt in honor of Cindy, a German Shepherd K-9 officer who was with Dublin from 2016-21. Cindy was acquired in 2016 at the age of two through grants from K-9 Working Dogs International and the National Police Chiefs Association and Dublin ISD contributing funds for the purchase and training. District Attorney Alan Nash and Erath County Crime Stoppers both also contributed $1,000 each for the dog’s upkeep.
After her initial partner left, Bobby Mendez trained to handle Cindy in 2017. Khris Jennings, DeLaVergne’s son, began taking care of her in 2018 and went into training with her to partner as a K-9 officer. Jennings acted as her human partner until she was retired and went to live with Jennings’ family full time until her death last year.
DeLaVergne wanted to recognize the K-9 officer’s significance with a quilt adorned with German Shepherds and police patterns in blue. The stitching on the back featured star patterns and a rendition of Jennings’ vehicle with Cindy hanging out of a back window.
Jennings and Dublin Police Chief Cameron Ray were on hand to receive the quilt on behalf of the department.
Council members unanimously approved annexation of approximately 3.1 acres of the right of way of FM219 (starting at the city limits and heading north to Lingleville) following a second public hearing in which no one spoke on the matter.
Emery Denning-Marsh, a local youth, spoke to the council during public comments saying he would like to work on restoring the Train Depot so it could be used in improving Dublin. The city put him in contact with the depot committee.
Heidi Haby signed up for public comments with questions regarding a maximum height variance for a cell phone tower. Representatives for Broadus Services were present Monday night and at last month’s meeting seeking a variance for a cell phone tower planned in an industrial district from the allowed 75 feet to 125 feet for better coverage for the company seeking it.
Habyaskedseveralquestions of the representatives including whether a National Environmental Protection Act report was filed for the project. They responded that the report would be filed once they knew what size they would be allowed to build. The tower had been tabled from the previous meeting with a request about the landowner moving it. Council was informed that the spot was moved from near Harris to access from Norton.
Council member Keegan McInroe was speaking on the matter and having looked into the Telecommunications Act of 1996 when the meeting was cut short.
Also on the agenda were several police matters, a Waste Connections rate increase, consideration of a contract with Lubbock’s Texas Communities Group for property management and substandard structure hearings. (Revitalize Dublin put the city in contact with the group to help with code enforcement throughout the city.)