New K9 to join the Green Township Police Department

The Green Township Police Department will once again have a Belgian Malinois on its force.

Handler Cpl. Tony Leidenbor has begun training with a new police dog that will replace Dino, a Belgian Malinois/shepherd mix, who died Sept. 25 while tracking a suspect.

Several weeks ago Leidenbor traveled to a kennel in Pennsylvania to select a new dog. Chief James Vetter with the Green Township Police Department said handlers participate in an intensive screening process to select a dog with the necessary qualities and temperament.

Once a dog is selected, it undergoes about 14 weeks of training, Vetter said.

The Green Township Police Department was provided funding by the Matt Haverkamp Foundation, an organization which provides law enforcement agencies with funding to purchase K9s.

Leidenbor began training with the new dog the week of Oct. 9.

"It's bittersweet," said Vetter, referring to the loss of Dino. "(However, Leidenbor) is one of the best handlers in the county. The program will go on."

This will be the Green Township Police Department's third K9.

Dino died in September while tracking a suspect involved in an attempted abduction in Forest Park. A memorial service for Dino was Oct. 6.

Vetter said an announcement introducing the new police dog to the community will be made in the coming weeks.