K9 59 beer fundraiser supports new Hatboro K9 unit
Jan. 11, 2019 (HATBORO, Pa.) - The Hatboro Borough Police Department is bringing on a new employee this year. He’ll be the department’s first four-legged police officer.
“An equal who’s a dog? I think it’s great!” said Officer Ryan Allen, who will be working with the new canine officer, Louie. “Finally someone who has to listen to me!”
Louie is a nearly 1-year-old German Shepherd who is currently training at the University of Pennsylvania Penn Vet Working Dog Center. He will join the police department as part of their new K9 unit.
“We’re going to consider Louie to be a police officer,” said Chief James Gardner. “He’s a very valuable tool. He’s going to be trained in patrol work, search and rescue, and narcotics detection.”
Officer Allen has advocated for a K9 unit for several years.
“The dog adds a level of sophistication to any police department that is not [possible] without one,” he said.
Louie will become Officer Allen’s partner during the day, riding around with him on some patrols and getting deployed as necessary, and then go home with him to be a “normal” dog at night. Louie can perform a lot of police tasks that humans cannot, Allen said.
“Missing persons, we can use him to track and find missing people. He can find evidence that’s discarded for any crime, should it be deemed necessary. If we have a crime that rises to a high level of violence or a suspect that needs to be apprehended, the dog can be deployed for that as well,” Allen said.
A K9 unit can also help discourage criminal activity and promote positive community relations, he said.
But it was a long path to getting Louie. Before he was contracted to work with the Hatboro Police Department, they had to raise enough funds to start a brand-new K9 unit, which costs around $40,000. Partnering with community organization Elm Street Hatboro and the Hatboro Federal Savings bank, the department began raising money last fall by selling t-shirts and sweatshirts, and a GoFundMe campaign. They’ve raised $25,000 so far.
And this weekend, they’re getting another boost from Hatboro-based Crooked Eye Brewery, which is releasing a special brew for Louie. It’s called K9 59, because Louie’s badge number will be 59.
“It’s an American pale ale. We used some hops that were actually grown in Pennsylvania,” said Crooked Eye Brewery head brewer Jeff Mulherain. “Funny enough, the hop farmers that grow it are actually Pennsylvania State Troopers, so it’s got a whole law enforcement vibe behind it.”
The brewery is releasing K9 59 at a special event this Saturday from noon to midnight. Feasterville-based food truck Cheese Dawgs will be serving up sandwiches and hot dogs while the Crooked Eye Brewery House Band plays live starting at 7 p.m. And of course, K9 59 will be on tap.
“It’s super clean, crisp, light malt flavor with really light hop bitterness,” Mulherain said.
All the proceeds from the K9 59 beer sold at the event will go to the K9 unit. After Saturday, Crooked Eye Brewery will donate a percentage of proceeds until the 105 gallons of beer runs out.
Louie officially joins the department in March, and he’s expected to begin patrols sometime over the summer.
“We believe that he will add a level of service to our community that we’ve never had in the past, so we’re really excited about it and we’re excited to get the program up and running,” Chief Gardner said.
If you’re interesting in supporting the Hatboro Police Department K9 Initiative, you can donate directly to the department with check or credit card, or donate online at their GoFundMe page. Or you can try some K9 59 at Crooked Eye Brewery this Saturday from noon to midnight.