Punxsy police place new K-9 into service
PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Punxsutawney Borough Police K-9 officer is officially open and ready for business in Punxsutawney as we celebrate National First Responders Day today.
Matt Conrad, Punxsutawney Borough Police chief, debuted the K-9 unit, which features special accommodations in his patrol car for their dog, Fury.
“We had the car updated and outfitted for Fury’s safety while he is on patrol and riding in the car and when he himself is out of the vehicle performing an investigation,” Conrad explained, adding that it has a carbon monoxide detector.
He added that the driver’s side of the vehicle has a hot spot system that monitors the temperature in the car.
“I can determine as to what level I want to put it on,” Conrad explained.
He pointed out that he has a pager on his vest, and it will go off when the system reaches the set temperature, then drop the windows and turn the siren on in the car, which is what tells the K-9 officer that the dog is having a problem in the vehicle.
“If you’re out of the car and the air conditioning malfunctions, then the pager on his vest will go off and the siren will also sound,” Conrad said.
He said a kennel replaces the back seat, which is a safe transporting system for the dog.
Conrad added that any arrestees can still be placed in the passenger seat.
“The front passenger side door is disabled, so it can’t be opened by a prisoner,” Conrad noted, adding that the dog can also come through the front seat. There are three exit points for the dog.
He noted that the unit is all about the K-9 officer’s safety.
Conrad pointed out that Fury has training in narcotics and detective work.
“He has also been working on tracking as well,” Conrad explained.
Following the last council meeting, Conrad said the car cost $45,000, which was the initial investment, and the overall program startup is $60,000.
“Right now, the community stepped up, and it’s been completely community-funded; there hasn’t been any tax dollars spent on it, and they are continuing to fundraise for it and we have a little bit more to go,” Conrad noted. “We appreciate the public’s assistance already and we’re happy to add a different public safety asset to the community.”
“A big chunk of the money that was spent is for the vehicle to be specially equipped for a K-9 officer,” Conrad explained. “Originally, we were going to change over Car 27, a 2017, to that vehicle. However, they looked at the milage at 78,000 the kennel would not transfer to a 2017, but it would to a 2020 model.”
He pointed out that they initially were going to invest $10,000 into an old car that was going to be out of service in a year and then reinvest another $10,000 into a new car.
“So, we purchased a new one, which upped our initial operating cost right off the bat,” he said, adding that Car 27 will live out its life as a patrol car, and the new car is now designated Car 26.
Conrad noted that they have their cars on a rotation based on mileage.
“There’s a 2015 that is getting close to 100,000 miles, so it’s getting close to its end, which would be five years if they have the proper rotation, which council has been helping us with,” Conrad explained.
He added that Fury can be called out at any time, but it has to be for a legitimate use of the dog, not just because someone guesses he might be needed.
“They have to have some kind of probable cause to make us go over to a scene,” he said.
Conrad noted that Fury is retired as a tracking dog with Pine Creek Volunteer Fire Company.
“We’re going to do tracking here, and it will be certified through the PD,” Conrad said.
He noted that he and Fury are also involved in the revolving work schedule, and he’ll be working all the shifts, not just during the day.