MINOT, ND (KXNET) -- The Ward County Sheriff's Department just got a big donation. On Saturday morning a $10,000 check was given to the Ward County Sheriff's Department, specifically for the K9 Project. The money was raised through fundraisers by the Blue Knights International Motorcycle Club as well as Base Utilities. It was given in honor of the club's late president, Roger Noel, who passed away in January of last year. The Club's Secretary-Treasurer says that Noel was always willing to help law enforcement no matter how big or small it was. "When they needed something, Roger would steer us in that direction. He was our president for quite a few years, in fact, until his health forced him to hand it to the vice president. And ultimately the vice president is now the president, but yeah, anytime law enforcement needed something he said 'let's help them out,'" said Al Hanson, the secretary-treasurer of the Blue Knights International Motorcycle Club. Protect your house from North Dakota rodents this winter Noel was an Air Force veteran, who served as a K9 handler during the Vietnam War. He dealt with several health issues for many years due to his exposure from Agent Orange during the war. However, members of the club remember Noel as someone who loved dogs.. especially one breed in particular. "Roger was a lover of German Shepherds, he had probably one of the meanest ones in the Air Force. I remember a story they told where the dog actually attacked a wooden telephone pole and started chewing on the pole. After that, when he became a civilian, he still had German Shepards his whole life up to the very end, and he just liked dogs," said Hanson. The money from the donation will go towards covering the cost of the department's purchase and training of a new K9, which runs close to $35,000. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW