Brownsville council approves start of K9 unit
BROWNSVILLE — Another officer is expected to be on the streets of Brownsville by the end of the summer, as long as he’s also on the end of a leash.
Council Tuesday voted to go forward with plans to start a K9 unit in the borough, with full-time officer John Brandt serving as the handler. The dog, Ace, is currently in training in Ohio and is being donated by the organization doing the training. Brandt will be joining Ace later this summer for two week’s training before returning to the borough with the dog.
Councilman Ross Swords has been researching the matter since getting preliminary approval from council in February. Swords Tuesday reported that an agency in Ohio, Lone Wolf K9, will donate a dog and training to the borough. It will also provide the handler’s leash for the animal and provide room and board for two weeks for Brandt during the training. The borough will cover the officer’s wages during that time.
Swords said the dog and training are valued at $10,500. Another organization, Kevlar for K9s, is donating a $900 bullet-proof vest for the dog. Dr. William Sheperd of Camelot Animal Hospital in Uniontown is volunteering veterinary services for the dog and J&D Beer Distributing is donating the food.
Not all council members were in favor of the decision to add a dog to the force.
“I appreciate all the work you put into this, but I disagree,” said James Lawver. “It’s going to take a whole lot of money. I feel we need it, I just feel we can’t afford it.”
James Lawver noted that the borough doesn’t get any of the money confiscated in drug raids since the county has a drug task force. He also questioned how much overtime the handler might incur by assisting other departments, including possible court appearances and extra time for things such as veterinary visits.
“Every time another municipality wants to use our dog, that’s more money,” James Lawver said.
Council president Jack Lawver said many of the issues raised could be addressed in the borough’s K9 policy and that the council has several months to work out those issues. Solicitor Melinda Dellarose said usage fees could be included in any mutual aid agreements with other municipalities.
James Lawver was the only negative vote on all issues regarding the K9 unit.