Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department expands police dog program
The Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department is adding another police dog to its force.
Veegee, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, will be flown from Oregon to Pittsburgh this week and begin training to earn a police certification from the North American Police Work Dog Association.
Upon completing several months of training, Veegee will join Rudy, Southern Armstrong Regional’s current police dog, also a Belgian Malinois, on patrol in Freeport, Ford City and Gilpin.
Thanks to fundraisers and ongoing donations from the public, Veegee was purchased for about $8,000, said Southern Armstrong Regional Chief Chris Fabec.
“We’ve been able to fund both dogs at no cost to the department,” Fabec said. “Everyone’s been great at supporting the program with donations.”
Gilpin Supervisor Charles Stull, who also is chairman of the Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department, thanked the public for the donations that keep the police dog program afloat.
“This K-9 fund covers the purchase, training, vehicle up-fit and veterinarian bills, and (the donations) are greatly appreciated,” Stull said. “Veegee will spend the coming months participating in intense training alongside her handler. However, she will be seen around the municipalities during this process.”
Allegheny Valley Regional police Chief Mike Naviglia will serve as Veegee’s trainer. Naviglia is licensed by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and has more than 20 years of experience working with police dogs.
Veegee is expected to complete her training and start working in late April. Veegee and Rudy are spayed and neutered and will work different shifts.
Fabec said Rudy, 7, goes on an average of four calls per week and adds great value to the department’s success with drug calls.
Rudy’s most recent drug bust took place during a traffic stop in December along Route 66 in Gilpin.
“The officer requested Rudy to conduct a sweep of the car, and Rudy ‘alerted’ on the trunk of the car. And the officer applied for and was granted a search warrant and found a large amount of narcotics in the trunk,” said Fabec, who serves as Rudy’s handler.
Lt. Scott Haslett is in charge of the police dog unit, a new role for him since joining Southern Armstrong Regional in November.
“I have a lot to learn myself and expand my knowledge,” Haslett said.
Haslett said internal interviews among several officers interested in being Veegee’s handler are ongoing.
“It’s a big responsibility because you have a police dog 24/7,” Haslett said, “but there’s been a lot of interest within the department.”
Veegee will live with her handler and will be trained in numerous categories, including search techniques, narcotic detection, tracking and aggression, and control training.
Plans for the department include the purchase of a third dog to allow for 24/7 police dog coverage.
Anyone wishing to make a donation to the department’s police dog program can email shaslett@sarpd.org or cfabec@sarpd.org or call 724-845-7979.
Donations may be mailed to Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department K-9 Fund, 589 Route 66, Leechburg, PA 15656.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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