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Handler – Officer Smith
Hughesville’s late police dog, Bear, laid to rest
He didn’t strap on a gun, drive a patrol car or even wear a police uniform.But he carried out an important job with the Hughesville Borough Police Department.Bear was an 85-pound German Shepherd who sniffed out illegal drugs, did building searches and helped various law enforcement agencies with criminal responses and investigations.Just recently, Bear was laid to rest after working with borough police for 10 years.“He was a dual-purpose canine,” Hughesville Police Chief Rod Smith said.Smith served as Bear’s handler.“He was my partner. He never left my side,” he said. “He went home with me. He went everywhere with me.”Bear became well-known in the community, letting people, including the potential criminals, know he was around, often barking repeatedly while riding with Smith in the patrol car.In fact, Bear’s mere presence was a great asset to the police department.“If anything, he was a deterrent. They knew we had a dog,” Smith said. “We put him in service in the middle of 2014.”Every police force, Smith said, should have a working canine. Dogs used for helping track drugs and apprehend criminals are a great resource.With their keen sense of smell, German Shepherds and other breeds of dog have been utilized by law enforcement agencies for many years.But Bear was among the few working canines in the local area and often helped other police departments.“I assisted Williamsport Police Department numerous times,” Smith said. “Also, the state police.”Unfortunately, Bear will not be replaced.Like many police dogs, Bear didn’t come cheaply.The yearly training alone for a police dog is expensive. Smith noted that fundraising efforts were carried out just to have Bear in the department.And so, life goes on without Bear, who was past his 13th birthday and feeling the ravages of old age.Sadly, Bear was laid to rest in September.“He was an excellent canine,” Smith said. “He will be very missed.”
