The K-9 Division consists of one team, Officer Marks and K-9 "Lord". Lord is European imported and responds only to Dutch commands. The team is dual purpose trained in utility and narcotics. The division meets the standards of and is certified by North American Police Work Dog Association before they were put into use.
The patrol dogs of the unit respond to and can be utilized for:
- all felonies in progress
Officer Marks in training - a large disturbance
- violent person(s)
- prowler calls
- unsecured buildings to conduct building searches and clear buildings
- missing persons and fleeing felons for tracking purposes
- alarm calls
- article searches for evidence recovery
- area searches to locate suspects
- narcotics searches of residences, buildings, vehicles, freight, luggage and packages
- screening seized money related to narcotics activity for the presence of narcotics previous to officers searching during the execution of narcotics search warrants
Functions of the Bethel Park Police Canine Unit
- Tracking and Area Searches: K-9 is utilized to track suspects who have fled from police officers on foot as well as search for missing or lost persons.
- Evidence Searches: K-9 is able to locate articles or contraband discarded by suspects.
- Building Searches: K-9 is used to search buildings that have been burglarized or used in the commission of criminal offenses.
- Narcotics Searches: K-9 is used to find illegal narcotics in buildings or vehicles.
- Handler Protection: K-9 is used to protect officers, including the handler, from assaults and will react without command if their handlers are assaulted.
- Criminal Apprehension: K-9 is used to apprehend high-risk criminals that pose a threat to officers or citizens providing greater safety to officers, citizens, and the suspect.
History of the Bethel Park Canine Unit
Bethel Park has a long K-9 Officer history. German dogs were trained in Germany, and donated dogs trained with Pittsburgh Police K-9 Division. Dogs were insured by Lords of London. At one time, there were six (6) K-9 teams working at the same time. Two (2) dogs in the same car; two (2) dogs per shift. This was the time period that Bethel Park High School would graduate 1,000 students or more a year. This was also the late 1960's to late 1970's when drugs became a serious problem.
The following is a list of former K-9 Officers and their Bethel Park Policeman Partners.
| K-9 Dog Bingo Partner was Patrolman Ronald Evans Bingo was a German Shepherd from Germany In Service from 1969 to 1975 |
K-9 Dog Iran Partner was Thomas Zader Iran was a German Shepherd from Germany In Service from 1972 to 1979 |
| K-9 Dog Sitoo Partner was Anthony Poye Sitoo was a German Shepherd from Germany In Service in 1972 |
K-9 Dog Tolf Partner was Anthony Poye Tolf was a German Shepherd from Germany In Service from 1972 to 1978 |
| K-9 Dog Thor Partner was Robert Clunan Thor was a German Shepherd from Germany In Service in 1973 |
K-9 Dog King Partner was Robert Clunan King was a German Shepherd - American Breed In Service from 1973 to 1979 |
| K-9 Dog Duke Partner was Charles Bonczek Duke was a Belgium Shepherd - American Breed In Service from 1973 to 1980 |
K-9 Dog Duke Partner was Eugene Joseph Duke was a German Shepherd - American Breed In Service from 1975 to 1979 |
K-9 Dog Cong Partner was Clarence "Skip" Hornak |
K-9 Dog Unto Partner was Frank Marks |
K-9 Dog Tyce Partner was Frank Marks |
K-9 Dog Lord Partner is Frank Marks |
CONG LORD UNTO TYCE
