Canine lesson: West Penn police dog goes to school

he pages of a book became real life for many Shull-David Elementary students on Thursday afternoon.

Second- and third-grade students just finished reading stories about police officers and their dogs. On Thursday students experienced that relationship up close as West Penn Township Police Chief Brian Johnson and Sgt. Jason Lorah brought their K-9, Gunner, for a school visit.

Fourth-grade teacher Colleen Hoppes organized the event for the second time since 2016.

“Our third-graders read “Officer Mike and Aero,” and our second-graders read “Officer Buckle and Gloria” earlier this year,” Hoppes said. “The kids love seeing Gunner in action and it really brings those stories to life for them.”

As part of his presentation, Johnson taught students about the different types of drugs Gunner, a German shepherd who will turn 7 in June, can detect, including marijuana, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and ecstasy.

Johnson hid a bag with 18 grams of heroin under a cone on the auditorium stage and sent Gunner to find it on the command, “Go find dope.” When the K-9 was successful, he sat down, alerting Johnson of his find. As a reward, Johnson threw Gunner a white cotton towel.

The only municipal police department in Carbon to Schuylkill counties to have a trained K-9 for apprehension and narcotics, West Penn makes it a habit to get around to schools and show off Gunner’s talents whenever possible.

According to Johnson, however, the reasoning for the educational programs goes much deeper.

“I think the important thing is for the kids to hear from the police officers that we’re not these terrible people,” Johnson, a Shull-David alum, said. “We live in the same communities we protect so we don’t want that wall separating us. Bringing Gunner out shows that we are trying to build a better relationship with the community, but also show them the tools that we utilize in the field.”

Having come from Holland, Gunner takes commands in English, Dutch and German.

Shull-David students were asked what special things their dogs could do with answers ranging from protecting them to ringing a bell to alert someone they have to go outside.

To further display Gunner’s abilities, Lorah put on a “bite sleeve” for protection before allowing the K-9 to chase him down as if he were a real suspect.

In a matter of seconds, Gunner had Lorah’s arm in his grasp, delighting students.

“We enjoy this,” Johnson said. “Gunner gets to play a little bit and mingle with the kids and hopefully help develop them into fine, upstanding citizens one day.”