PLUMSTED – Two local firefighting organizations have joined together to help ensure the safety of a K-9 police officer in Plumsted Township.
Members of the Plumsted Township Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association (FMBA) Local 89 and the New Egypt Volunteer Fire Company recently announced the donation of a heat-activated device that is designed to keep police dogs safe in an unattended police cruiser.
Since June, the Plumsted Township Police Department has been using the services of a unit that is comprised of Officer Ryan Nani and K-9 Officer Lock.
FMBA President Ryan Dullea said the equipment was obtained to protect any accidental harm from coming to Lock, who is a German shepherd.
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, since 2008 there have been 30 instances in which police dogs have died from heat exhaustion in a patrol car. A number of those deaths occurred when the patrol car’s air conditioning unit failed.
“K-9 officers typically leave their vehicle’s air conditioning running when they are not in the vehicle with their K-9 (dog), but what would happen if the air conditioning fails and begins to push hot air?” Dullea said. “Unfortunately, this is a reality we have to face.”
After discussing the benefits of the device with Nani and representatives of the police department, Dullea said, the two firefighting organizations obtained the F3 K-9 Deployment and Heat Alert System.
The system is comprised of a heat alarm and an automatic door opener for the K-9 patrol car and will allow Nani to monitor the temperature in the vehicle. In the event the air conditioning fails while Lock is alone in the car, Nani can open a door from his location and ensure that Lock can exit the vehicle.
Dullea said the system is an important safety precaution for the police department’s K-9 unit.
“Lock can go where human officers are unable to go,” Dullea said. “The bottom line is that he improves the efficiency of public safety for the residents of Plumsted Township.”