LAPEL — He may only be 6 years old, but Karson Richards is already certain of a couple of things.

For one, he loves dogs; for another, he wants to be a police officer when he grows up.

Karson, a Lapel Elementary School kindergarten student, came up with an idea earlier this year to combine two of his favorite things — dogs and police — and raise money for the Lapel Police Department canine unit.

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Karson set up a lemonade and brownie stand at his grandparents’ home, where he raised more than $200 this summer. He recently donated the money to the police department.

Karson’s mom, Meghan Richards, said her son decided when his birthday rolled around this year he didn’t really need or want anything. Instead, he wanted to do something for the local police department to help them keep drugs off the streets.

“He told every single one of his lemonade stand customers, ‘Do you want to buy some lemonade and help keep the drugs off the streets?’” Meghan Richards said.

Karson’s father died in a car accident when he was six months old. His mother has tried to keep strong male figures in his life. Through a close friend, who knows some of the local police staff, Karson has developed a fondness for the men in blue.

All Karson wanted for his donation was a picture with the dog and his handler, Lapel police officer Mike Porter.

Police chief Kelly Nasselrod was touched by Karson’s compassion and loved his idea of raising money for the department’s 3-year-old dog, Taiko, a Belgian Malinois.

“Every little bit of money we can get for him really helps,” Nasselrod said.

Porter, who lives and works with the dog, said having a dog on the force is helpful in the fight against illegal drugs in the area.

Since Taiko has been on the force, he has curbed drug abuse by helping alert officers to illegal drugs when he gets a whiff.

“I can’t remember the last time we’ve had a medical call on an overdose from illegal drugs,” Porter said. “Just during the first year I had him, we had over 30 illegal drug finds.”

Porter uses Taiko daily to help catch people with illegal drugs, and his presence has indeed been a deterrent for illegal drugs, Porter said.

It’s been several months since local law enforcement has found heroine in the area, Porter said, and while Porter is sure illegal drugs are still around, he knows people are less likely to push them with Taiko in town.

Having the dog is expensive, so the money Karson donated will come in handy, Porter said.

Taiko and dog and handler training is estimated to have cost about $15,000, all of which was donated two years ago by town residents.

The money Karson raised and donated can be used to provide some of the dog’s other needs, such as a new bed or some toys.

“We just don’t have a physical budget that can really cover all of his needs,” Porter said.

The police department relies on local businesses to provide for the dog’s food and healthcare, so the money Karson donated will come in handy.