K9 retires from Northern Regional police department

Though he’s not beach-bound, a local police dog has recently retired to the “lap” of luxury.

That lap belongs to his former police partner and now permanent owner Sgt. Michael Dorsch of the Northern Regional Police Department.

K-9 Nolte retired in December from the NRPD, which he first joined in 2014 with Dorsch as his human police partner, according to NRPD Chief John Sicilia.

Nolte replaced K-9 Dark, the NRPD’s first police dog, also handled by Dorsch. Dorsch and Dark came from the Carnegie Borough Police Department before Dark retired in 2014.

Now it’s Nolte’s turn to put his paws up. The German Malinois is enjoying retirement as a pet of Dorsch, who loved being a K-9 handler.

“It’s the best position in law enforcement, hands down, best gig there is. Being able to bring my best buddy to work for the last 17 years, (with) two different dogs, and going after bad guys is awesome. Nolte was a super energetic and great working dog, now he’s learning to live a ‘normal life’ at home. He’s adjusting well,” Dorsch said.

Police dogs typically work eight to 10 years, and Dorsch said Nolte was getting to the point of retirement. Officers at NRPD work 12-hour shifts, and so did Nolte, Sicilia said.

The NRPD, which services Bradford Woods, Marshall, Pine and Richland, is waiting for a new police dog, a Labrador breed, that will be skilled in explosive detection and human tracking. Sicilia said human tracking can aid in missing children, elderly residents and other vulnerable community members, such as those with memory issues or people on the autism spectrum.

The new puppy is being trained with its future handler NRPD Officer Michael Stevenson at Shallow Creek Kennels in Sharpsville, Mercer County.

Dorsch, who has been newly promoted to sergeant, will “pass the torch” of K-9 handling to Stevenson, Sicilia said.

To purchase and train a new dog costs about $15,000. NRPD received a grant to pay for the dog from the local nonprofit Officer Brian Shaw Foundation, according to Sicilia.

The major cost is the vehicle needed for the K-9, which can be close to $70,000, he said. Stevenson will use Dorsch’s former K-9-equipped vehicle, but it’s at the end of its life and needs to be replaced, Sicilia said. The department started a fundraiser in the community and has been able to raise close to $15,000. The department is waiting on confirmation of several grants to help aid the purchase.

Silica said with grants and donations still coming in, the department is hoping to purchase a second K-9 and another vehicle so there is a dog on each shift.

“The new K-9 and Stevenson will complete their training by the end of January, so we are expecting them to start patrolling beginning of February,” Sicilia said.