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We at the Plymouth Township Police
Department are very proud of the reputation of our K-9 Unit. Each and every one
of our teams throughout the years has proven to be a valuable asset to our
community as a whole. The dedication and hard work of these animals along with
their handlers make our K-9 Unit stand above others when it comes to proficiency
and professionalism.
Please select a dog listed below or scroll
down the entire section to read about each dog.
Alex Andy
Bosco
Brix Casper
Hero Judo
Manny Mauser
Robbie Sando
Sonny Tarco
Tramp
Photos taken by Photographer Guy Anhorn.
Visit his website at:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/guyanhorn/pet_portraits.htm
 ALEX
BADGE 904
Alex joined our unit in 1993. He was our first
German Shepherd Police Dog. Alex came to us from the Czech Republic. Alex served
until his retirement in 2000. Alex’s handler was Officer Gerard King.
ANDY BADGE 913
Andy joined the department in 2005 after working for the
Conshohocken Borough Police Department. Andy is cross-trained in patrol and
narcotics detection. Andy’s handler is Officer Lou Layfield.
 BOSCO
BADGE 914
Casper's handler, Officer Thomas Marinello, got his new partner Bosco in October
of 2005. K9 Bosco is a two year old German Shepherd who came from Hungary. He has completed his basic
training and is cross-trained in patrol and narcotics detection. His patrol
functions include tracking, building and area searches, and the apprehension of
suspects. He is trained to detect and alert on marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and
methamphetamine odors. Officer Marinello has been a member of the department's
K9 unit for eight years and Bosco is his second K9 partner. Bosco's addition
brings the department's K9 unit back up to four teams.
 BRIX
BADGE 911
Brix joined the department
in 2003. He is a long-haired German Shepherd Dog who came from the Czech
Republic. Brix is cross trained in narcotics detection and patrol.
Brix and his handler Ofc. Andrew Adams competed in the Pennsylvania Police
Annual Regional K-9 trials in 2004 where they took the gold medals in obedience
and narcotics detection and a silver medal for aggression control.
Casper joined the department in 1998. Casper is a German
Shepherd Dog who came to us
from Eastern Europe. Casper’s handler is Officer Thomas Marinello.
Officer Marinello and Casper competed in the U.S. Police Canine Association
Region 4 Field trials where they finished in 2nd place overall.
The Plymouth
Township Police Department lost one of its canines when Casper passed away on
December 15, 2005. Casper was diagnosed with cancer and had retired from his
police duties a few months prior. K9 Casper was acquired in August of 1998 and
faithfully served the Plymouth Community
for the past seven years.
 HERO
BADGE 905
Hero joined the department in 1997. He was a German
shepherd dog from Eastern Europe. Hero served the department until his
retirement in Hero’s handler was Sgt. Thomas Longo.
 JUDO
BADGE 912
Judo joined the department in 2005. He is a German shepherd
dog who was born in Hungary. Judo is cross-trained in patrol and narcotics
detection. Judo’s handler is Officer Doug Wells.
Manny joined the department in 2000. Manny is a German
shepherd dog who came to us from Eastern Europe. Manny had big shoes to fill, as
he was chosen to replace K-9 Tramp. Manny was certified in patrol and narcotics
detection. Manny and his handler Officer Doug Wells competed in and
completed a K-9 triathlon in 2001.
Manny served our department until 2003 when he was
seriously injured while apprehending a suspect. The suspect repeatedly kicked
and punched Manny causing several of his vertebrae to be injured, but throughout
the whole ordeal, Manny stood strong and performed his duties until the suspect
was taken into custody. As a result of this incident the suspect went to prison.
Manny underwent several unsuccessful surgeries, but he could no longer perform
his duties as a police dog and he was forced to retire.
Mauser joined the department in 2000. Mauser is a German
Shepherd Dog whose mother and father were both champions in Europe, but Mauser was
born in the United States. Mauser was our
first K-9 to be crossed trained in patrol and narcotics detection.
Officer King and Mauser competed in and completed a K-9 triathlon in
2001.
Officer King was promoted to sergeant in 2004, and Mauser was retired at that
time due to health concerns.
Robbie was one of the original two dogs obtained by the
Police Department. Robbie was a Belgian Malinois who came to us from the
Netherlands. Robbie arrived here in 1990. Robbie and his
handler, Officer Walter Psculkowski competed in the U.S. Police Canine
Association Region 4 field trials in 1992. They were an
integral part of the Plymouth Township Police Department’s 3rd
place overall team finish. Robbie served until his retirement in 1998.
Sando was one of
the two original dogs obtained by the Police Department. Sando was a Belgian
Malinois who came to us from the Netherlands. Sando arrived here in 1990 and
served until his retirement in 1997. Sando’s handler was Officer Thomas
Longo. Sando and Officer Longo competed in the United States Police Canine
Association Region 4 Field trials in 1992, where they placed 2nd
overall in the scent work, and were part of the Plymouth Township
Police Department’s 3rd place overall team finish.
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Sonny joined the
department in 1997. Sonny hailed from Eastern Europe, he is a German Shepherd
Dog. Sonny has had two handlers; the first was Officer Karen Mabry, who was
promoted to the rank of sergeant in 1999. After that Sonny’s handler was Officer
Lou Layfield. Sonny served the department until his retirement in 2005.
Tarco joined the department in 1992. He was a Belgian Malinois. Tarco competed in various police dog competitions. Tarco
finished in first place at the United States Police Canine Association Region 4
Field Trials in September of 1992. Tarco then went to the national competition
in Washington D.C. and he finished in 14th place overall in 1993. Tarco served until his retirement in 1997. His handler was
Officer Steve McBride.
Tramp came to us
from the Borough of Norristown Police Department, along with his handler Officer
Doug Wells. Sadly, Tramp’s tenure with our department was cut short by a tragic
on duty accident in October 2000, which took his life. Tramp was the first and
so far, only Plymouth Township police dog killed in the line of duty.
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