Jeannette paid $660 to a kennel that housed the city’s police dog while the police department’s K9 unit was disbanded this summer, according to a bill obtained by the Trib through an open records request.
Diesel, a Belgian malinois, was at the kennel from July 30 to Aug. 20, the bill shows.
City officials abruptly disbanded the police dog program July 23, citing costs and performance as a factor. After an agreement drawn up by the city to turn the dog’s ownership over to handler Sgt. Jim Phillips went unsigned, Phillips dropped Diesel off at the kennel. He previously said he had concerns about liability until the potential agreement was formally approved and wanted an attorney to look it over.
Residents packed council chambers to voice opposition about the decision during council’s August meeting.
In another abrupt decision, Mayor Curtis Antoniak decided Aug. 19 to reinstate the police dog program, days before Diesel would have had to be moved from the kennel because it was going to be unavailable for a time. Phillips picked up Diesel the following day. They’ve been back on the job since.
A second police dog on the force — Kilo, a Dutch shepherd — did not return to work after the reinstatement.
The July 23 disbandment came about a month after Phillips and Kilo’s handler Officer Matthew Painter filed a federal lawsuit, claiming the city violated labor laws by not paying overtime and costs associated with caring for the two dogs outside of normal working hours. Attorneys representing Jeannette have denied liability.
Mediation is scheduled for December.
Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Jeannette. She has been working at the Trib since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com.
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