Derry awaits new police dog, training to continue program

A four-footed crime-fighter should once again be patrolling the streets of Derry, if all goes as planned.

Derry Police Chief Randy Glick is hoping to drive to Washington, D.C., next week and return with his newest police dog partner — a 9-month-old Malinois pup that is to be flown in from Holland.

Smokey, the prospective Derry police dog, will undergo six weeks training at Strategic Law Enforcement K-9 Training in North Huntingdon, Glick said. As was his longtime predecessor, Blade, Derry’s new canine officer will be dual-certified — to detect and alert his handler to narcotics and to assist with a number of patrol scenarios.

“You get more bang for your buck,” Glick said. He explained police dog duties can include tracking an item or searching for a suspect or a lost person.

The borough has been without an active police dog since Blade retired on Dec. 31 after more than a decade of service and just shy of his 13th birthday.

Glick was preparing to have a successor for Blade on hand even before borough council on Monday voted unanimously to continue the program.

“I had a dog, Hondo. I got him as a pup,” Glick said. “I certified him in narcotics, hoping that the borough wanted to continue the program and it would be a really smooth transition from Blade to Hondo.”

Unfortunately, Hondo fell ill before Thanksgiving, suffered acute liver failure, and died, prompting Glick to seek another prospective canine partner.

Mayor Alanna DeRito-Gaudiello supports continuing the program, which she noted has provided support to other law enforcement agencies in neighboring communities.

“I wanted to continue that for the community,” she said, “and, also, we do have a contract with the (Derry Area) school district to provide services for them, which includes having a K-9.”

The district annually pays $13,500 to the borough for the police services.

“We look at the K-9 program as an extension of the police department, and we’re very happy that they’re going to continue that program,” said Derry Area Superintendent Eric Curry.

Blade and Glick made outreach visits to interact with students and also were used to search district buildings for suspected drugs, Curry said.

“Randy and the local police department have always been very accommodating,” he said. “The kids love seeing the dog.”

Borough police also assist with traffic control during afternoon school dismissal and on other occasions as needed, he said.

DeRito-Gaudiello noted there was some concern about ongoing personnel costs associated with the police dog program — 16 hours of monthly maintenance training Glick and the dog must participate in. To reduce that cost, Glick has agreed to work four hours at the police station, before each four-hour weekly training session, instead of leaving the station for a full eight-hour shift.

Glick said that should reduce the annual cost of hiring an officer to fill in for him to about $3,500.

Otherwise, he said, “The cost of running the program is minimal. It’s just the initial purchase of the dog and the training.”

It will cost $4,500 to buy Smokey and another $5,000 to train the dog, Glick said. Some of that amount already has been covered by a $6,000 donation the borough received on Monday.

As was the case during Blade’s tenure, Glick expects most of his department’s dog costs, including food, will be funded through donations. While local veterinary care has been provided at a discounted rate, he said Smokey should be able to use a Ford Explorer and other equipment the department obtained for Blade.

“We have a lot of followers on Facebook, and all the townsfolk are big supporters of the K-9 program,” he said. “We’ve never had an issue with keeping it funded.”

Meanwhile, Blade, who remains in good health, was sold for $1 to Glick, who will keep him as a companion. Weeks before his retirement, Blade assisted state police with a drug bust on Route 22 that netted four pounds of marijuana.

“He was still doing really well,” Glick said. But, with the dog’s advanced age, the chief said, “I thought it was fair that he gets to take a break and chill. I don’t want him to be hurt.”

Donations can be made payable to “Derry Borough K-9 Unit” and sent to the police department at 116 E. Second Ave., Derry, PA 15627.