Scott Township Police Getting Another K9 Unit

could be getting a second K9 unit soon.

Police Chief James Secreet told the that there is a chance to get a dog from another department whose handler was injured and is on disability.

The dog, a 3-year-old German shepherd named Eddie, previously worked for the West View Police Department, but has been decommissioned because his handler isn’t working.

Secreet said one of his officers has been working to get a dog that could work in conjunction with the current K9 unit, but the cost was too high. However, West View plans to donate Eddie–which will save Scott Township about $8,000­–and could begin patrols with Officer Jake Stephenson after a month-long training course. Secreet said Stevenson plans to pay for the training sessions, but the commissioners might reimburse him for the cost.

Secreet said he did research on the dog and found it to have an excellent track record and good temperament. He added that the police department might apply for funds from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation’s K9 Fund next year.

“I’m 100 percent behind it,” Secreet said. “It’s a no-brainer to me.”

There is already one K9 unit in the department, a 5-year-old German shepherd named Lord, that will be able to work an opposite 12-hour shift of Eddie. That way K9 units could be working around the clock in the township.

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