Kimball City Council accepts resignation of Interim Police Chief, discusses future of K-9 department

KIMBALL -- The city council accepted the resignation of Interim Police Chief Jose Barboza in the meeting Tuesday evening, effective March 22. 

The announcement first came two weeks ago, but the formal acceptance from the city council was postponed until Tuesday. 

Mayor John Morrison said the search for a Police Chief and additional officers continues. 

Since Barboza is also the handler of K-9 Lucy, the council discussed how to move forward with the K-9 department. 

The council did not come to a definitive solution, but the city has two options; either find a new officer who is interested in becoming a K-9 handler – which they would need to go through the training course with Lucy, or they can sell Lucy to another department and dissolve Kimball’s K-9 department. 

Council member Greg Robinson said, “I would like to keep our options open and find housing for her until someone comes up who is interested in being the handler.” 

City Administrator Annette Brower has volunteered to house Lucy for the time being as the city navigates their options.