The third annual Brews for K9 Crews raised $6,500 for the Sapulpa Police Department’s K9 unit this month, bringing the fundraiser’s total to $27,500 since it began.
This year’s event was held on Oct. 8 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the same location it originated at: James Calley Brewing Co., 117 E. Hobson Ave.
Donors who gave $125 or more were offered a $25 gift card to the brewery, the same incentive used at the first event in 2024.
The money comes as the department’s K9 roster is getting smaller. At last year’s fundraiser, Police Chief Mike Reed mentioned the department planned to grow its K9 unit in 2026. When Sapulpa Times followed up, Reed laid out in an Oct. 6 email where the unit stood as of early October.
“We had 4 K9’s, but over the last year we have retired one (Pepper) and sent another one back to the trainer (Echo) because he was not a good working dog,” Reed said in an email. “We currently have 2 dogs (Valor and Maverik). Valor will be retired in November due to age and health issues so we will be down to 1-K9.”
Pepper, known in the community as the “friendly police dog,” retired in September 2025, Sapulpa Times reported at the time.
Reed said the department wants to rebuild the unit.
“We hope to raise the funds to purchase at least 2 more dogs to get us back up to 3 for now,” he said. “It can cost $15,000+ per dog to purchase them, have the dog trained, have the handler trained to work with the dog and purchase all the needed equipment for the dog and handler.”
That equipment includes leashes, leads, bowls, toys, body armor for the dog, a large outdoor kennel and a concrete pad for the kennel, among other items, Reed said.
“Money also goes towards buying dog food and paying for all vet bills associated with the dogs,” he said.
By Reed’s estimate, adding the two dogs the department hopes for would cost more than $30,000, before food and veterinary bills.
Brews for K9 Crews started in 2024, when Phil Kennedy approached Jim Dilley, who had just opened James Calley Brewing Co. with business partner Randy Calley, about hosting a fundraiser to help the Friends of the Sapulpa K9 Unit replenish its dwindling funds, Sapulpa Times reported at the time. The idea grew out of a request from Officer Cady Byrnes, who asked Kennedy for help raising money for the department’s K9 program.
Put together on a week’s notice, that first event raised $11,000 in six hours.
“God is just blessing everybody through these events,” Kennedy said after the 2024 fundraiser. “It’s just bringing people together that may never get together, otherwise.”