K-9 Ron with his handler, officer Tyler Malia, and Tyler Grose, whose design was selected for the animal’s police patch.
His tongue was out, his breathing was hard and his tail was wagging.
With his handler officer Tyler Malia by his side, K-9 Ron was excited. He raised his right paw – or tried to – as township Mayor Barnes Hutchins administered his oath of office at an Oct. 28 council meeting.
“I, K-9 Ron, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully, impartially, without fear, favor or affection, justly perform my duties as Police K-9 officer for the Township of Delran,” Hutchins – as Ron – announced. “… I further swear and affirm that I will protect and serve the citizens of Delran, assist my handler in enforcing the law, find illegal drugs and be a goodwill ambassador for the Delran Township Police Department to the best of my ability.
“So help me God.”
The department introduced K-9 Ron to the public through a Facebook post on Sept. 24. The animal – the force’s narcotics detection and community policing canine – was a rescue from the Minneapolis Animal Care Center and donated to police.
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 nonprofit dedicated to locating and training rescue dogs for police work.
Because of his breed, Ron struggled to find a K-9 position, according to Protector. He worked hard every day, attended seminars with some of the top trainers in the world and never gave up, said the nonprofit. Then as a result of networking by one of his biggest supporters, he was introduced to Delran police.
The department was open minded and gave Ron the opportunity to showcase his skills and personality. He quickly won over the force and township officials.
Burlington County Commissioner Tyler Burrell, a former township councilman, presented Malia and K-9 Ron – as well as K-9 Protector – with county proclamations at the council meeting. Delran High senior Tyler Grose was recognized for designing the department’s new K-9 Patch.
Grose was one of nine students in graphic arts teacher Jacquelyn McGhee’s class who also designed a patch for Ron.
“Once we received the designs, we were blown away with the students’ creativity and how great all the designs looked,” Pfeffer noted, adding it made the design selection very difficult.
Grose did the honors as he unveiled his winning K-9 patch, to be worn by Malia and Ron. All of the patches designed by students were displayed during the meeting.
