Photo: wellphoto / iStock / Getty Images
The Williamsport Bureau of Police is set to welcome a new member to its team, a K-9 officer specializing in bomb detection. The city council has approved a contract with an Ohio-based K-9 service company to provide the department with its third police dog, a golden-lab mix.
The new K-9 officer will be trained to detect and track bombs, as well as potential suspects. The addition of this specialized K-9 officer will enhance the department's capabilities in ensuring public safety.
The cost of the contract will not be borne by the city. Instead, it will be covered by donations and grant funding. The date of the K-9 officer's arrival has not been specified yet.
K-9 units play a crucial role in law enforcement, providing unique skills that complement those of their human counterparts. However, their training and handling have come under scrutiny in recent years. The use of body cameras has allowed for increased transparency and accountability in K-9 units, as it provides a close-up view of the interactions between handlers and dogs during operations.