Leetsdale Police Show Off K-9 Capabilities

A busy boulevard, two industrial parks and a high school are just a few reasons why a K-9 officer would be beneficial in , according to Beaver County Sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Rich Yonlisky, who is in charge of the county's K-9 unit.

Yonlisky spoke Tuesday night to borough council during a demonstration the police arranged as part of its quest to add a K-9 to the department. 

 Officer William Dreyer and Police Chief James Santucci  in June requesting a dog. Council in turn asked to see a detailed proposal.

An audience watched as a police officer hid a package of marijuana in a copy machine that was quickly located by a K-9's scratch of its paw.

Yonlisky has trained and handled K-9s for 15 years, and said a dog not only serves as a deterrent, but can also track a lost child, a person with Alzheimer’s or a criminal on the run, and can detect narcotics during a traffic stop.

A K-9 officer is also good for public relations, Yonlisky added, particularly when it comes to children.

“The benefits of having a dog outweigh everything else,” he said.

Yonlisky has assisted K-9 units in Beaver Falls, Ambridge and New Castle, and told Leetsdale officials he’d be willing to help the borough institute a program, find the right dog and provide training at a discounted rate of $10,500.

Dreyer, who would serve as the dog’s handler, said the borough was given a dog from an outside agency that seemed good-tempered until it bit him three times.

“That made me realize I still want to do this program,” he said.

One resident questioned whether the police department was attempting to compete with neighboring boroughs that have K-9s, and whether a municipality Leetsdale's size really needs a dog.

“Leetsdale is a small town, but … criminals live in small towns too,” Yonlisky answered.

For some, the issue boils down to cost.

Resident Melanie Dunn pointed out that training the K-9 would require the borough to pay for the officer’s off-duty training, not to mention special car equipment a dog requires.

“What’s the price of a human life when a dog can do something,” Yonlisky asked.

Police said food, vet care and other costs can run about $3,500 annually, not expensive considering what comes in return. In Allegheny County, when a department uncovers drug money in a traffic stop, half of the money comes back to the municipality as well, Yonlisky said.

“I’ve hit as much as $250,000 in a car,” he said.

Dreyer said he plans to sell T-shirts, seek grant funding from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation for K-9s, and host fund-raising events in order to cover the dog's care at no cost to the borough.

But Dreyer said he can’t raise the necessary funding without a K-9 program being reinstituted into Leetsdale. The department had a police dog for six years, but it retired about three years ago.

“Basically, we have nothing,” Dreyer said.

Officials appeared cautious about taking on a police dog. 

Council Vice President Michael Bajsec said there were still many unanswered questions about the costs, benefits and the breadth of the need. 

“The point is, there are many pieces to this puzzle,” Bajsec said.

Dreyer agreed to bring a detailed proposal to council next month.