MT. LEBANON, Pa. — The Mt. Lebanon Police Department announced they have added a new K-9 to its force.
K-9 Bear is a 14-month-old scent-discriminant bloodhound.
Police said Bear is named for Mt. Lebanon Police Officer Jerrod Withrow, who died of colon cancer last year. Withrow’s nickname was “Bear.”
Officer Daniel McBridge is Bear’s partner. When not on duty, Bear will live in McBride’s family, including two other dogs.
Police said the public donated the total $22,000 cost for the dog, which included $9,000 for a custom kennel. Two of the key donors were Gail and Randy Withrow, Jerrod’s parents.
Bear is the fourth police dog the department has had since the 1990s, but the first bloodhound.
The department said they believe tracking is a more needed skill for the department, taking into consideration that Mt. Lebanon’s six square-miles are densley populated with school-aged children and that several high-risk elderly residents have been reported missing over the last few years.
Bear will also be a community partner with the schools.
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