Elliott Co. grant paves way for purchase of Westmoreland Park Police dog

The Westmoreland County Park Police Department will enlist its newest police dog this summer.

Officials this week announced that the county received a $12,000 grant from Elliott Co. in Jeannette to purchase a second police dog that will be trained to detect narcotics and other drugs, according to park police Chief Henry Fontana.

“I am super happy they saw the need the way we saw the need,” Fontana said.

In return for the grant, the county will name the Belgian Malinois Elliott.

Officials said the dog, which is being purchased from a seller in the Netherlands, will complete a 12-week training class before being put into service.

The department, which patrols at the courthouse as well as county parks and other government properties, has enlisted a police dog since 2012. Rico, the department’s explosives- and gun-detection dog, was put into service last year after the retirement of the park police’s first dog, Rex.

“It’s our hope that K9 Elliott’s contribution will help the Westmoreland County Park Police continue to make Westmoreland County a great place to live, work and play,” said Jason Reynolds, Elliott’s director of global human resources.

Fontana announced earlier this year a $75,000 fundraising drive to pay for the purchase of the department’s second dog.

The department previously received a $5,000 donation from the county district attorney’s office from money confiscated and forfeited following drug investigations and is still seeking about $60,000 in donations. That money will pay for a new patrol vehicle and equipment needed for the new dog, Fontana said.

The county last year received a $1,000 donation from 1st Summit Bank to pay for equipment needed to outfit Rico, including an explosives detection odor kit and a synthetic rubber training arm.