K-9 Ron – a rescue from the Minneapolis Animal Care Center – has been donated to the Delran Township Police Department to begin his career as a narcotics detection and community policing canine.
K-9 Ron – a rescue from the Minneapolis Animal Care Center – has been donated to the Delran Township Police Department to begin his career as a narcotics detection and community policing canine.
He was living with a foster through Unbreakabull Pit Bull Rescue of Minnesota. He then entered the K-9 Protector’s program and was trained in narcotics detection. K-9 Protector is a non-profit organization dedicated to locating and training rescue dogs for police work.
Because of his breed Ron struggled to find a job as a police canine, according to the K-9 Protector organization. He worked hard every day, attended seminars with some of the top trainers in the world and never gave up, according to the non-profit. Then as a result of networking by one of his biggest supporters, he was introduced to the Delran Police Department.
The department was open minded and gave Ron the opportunity to showcase his skills and personality. He quickly won over the department and township officials.
The Delran Township Police Department introduced K-9 Ron to the public through a Facebook post on Sept. 24. K-9 Ron will serve as the department’s narcotics detection and community policing canine.
The Delran Township Council approved an ordinance at a meeting on Sept. 9 to establish a police canine (K-9) unit, which was recommended by Police Chief Matthew Gasper.
The K-9 Unit shall be authorized to:
- Assist in the detection of narcotics, explosives, and other contraband;
- Track and apprehend suspects;
- Locate missing persons;
- Support officer safety and tactical operations; and
- Provide community demonstrations and education
K-9 Ron and his new handler, Patrolman Tyler Malia, are both currently in school at the Middlesex County Sheriff’s K-9 Academy and will be ready to work together in the very near future.
“We are looking forward to them returning from their training and to start serving our community,” the department said in the social media post. “We have no doubt that they will be a great team.”
The post received a myriad of comments including from Mayor Barnes Hutchins.
“Welcome to Delran, K-9 Ron, your journey from rescue dog to police canine is nothing short of inspiring, and we are proud to have you join our police department,” he commented. “Thank you to everyone who supported Ron along the way and believed in his potential. We look forward to seeing him serve our community and become part of the Delran family.”
Other comments – mostly favorable – thanked the department for giving a pit bull breed an opportunity to serve.
“Love this,” commented Cathy Fiorile. “Thanks for positively representing a pit bull. I will follow his social media posts.”
“Major kudos to the Delran Police Department for leading the way in law enforcement by valuing a dog’s skills and abilities over breed and stereotypes,” Kristin Kristin posted.
K-9 Ron is expected to have his own social media account in the near future.
The K-9 Ron shirt sale is live on Unbreakabull Pit Bull Rescue of Minnesota’s Facebook page. These shirts are to commemorate his journey from a rescue dog in need of a second chance to a trained police canine, according to the rescue. Proceeds will be split between the rescue that saved Ron, Unbreakabull Pit Bull Rescue of Minnesota and the newly formed K-9 Ron fund that will help fund the Delran Township Police Department K-9 Unit.
