Manheim Borough Police Department may add a K-9 officer to its ranks.
Officer Aaron Szulborski, president of the Manheim Police Association, told borough council on May 29 that the MPA members are seeking pledges from businesses in the borough and Rapho Township to help cover the cost of getting, training and maintaining the dog.
This would be the second canine for the department. A black Labrador retriever named Coal served for eight years before retiring in January 2009. Coal lost a battle with cancer in June 2011. Coal was trained as a drug dog.
Szulborski said the department would like the new canine to be a dual-purpose K-9 - one that could search for drugs and do people and article searches.
"This would make the canine a more effective tool for the department," he said.
"I think you'll get a lot of support from the community," council member Rebekah Bowers said. "Everyone loved Coal."
Mayor Eric Phillips said having such a dog would enhance the capabilities of the department.
In another police issue, Chief Joe Stauffer received council's support to continue negotiations with the Manheim Central School District for a new three-year contract for a school resource officer in the high school.
He said that because of budget considerations the school district had been considering eliminating the SRO program completely but will eliminate only the middle school SRO and keep the high school position.
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