A veterans organization has made a generous donation to help support local law enforcement.
The VFW Post 249 in Butler donated $15,000 to the Butler City Police K9 Fund. The check was presented on Wednesday.
“This is actually enough money to purchase an entire dog,” Butler City Police Chief Robert O’Neill said.
In addition to the VFW donation, $38,000 has been raised by the community. Chief O’Neill says he hopes two K9 officers can be purchased and trained. Fundraising will continue to fund that effort, as well as fund a second vehicle.
The Veterans of Foreign War Chaplain Doug Raisley said the VFW, and other donors, recognize the value of the K9 officers as a deterrent to certain kinds of crime in the city.
“This was a great meeting of need and resources,” Raisley said. “This is a win-win on both sides.”
The city of Pittsburgh will help identify the dogs that are ready to be used and provide 12 weeks of training for the human officers chosen to partner with the K9s, according to Chief O’Neill. He hopes to have the K9 officers on the force by summer.
