Reading K-9 teams put on a show

Published on October 31, 2017

I recently had the opportunity to see what the Reading Police Department’s K-9 unit can do.

I was covering the training graduation of Officer Mark Hackney and his dog, Nero.

The police department uses the occasion to display the skills that Hackney and Nero and other K-9 units have developed during months of training. It’s amazing how well-trained and disciplined the dogs are.

During the ceremony, Nero quickly identified evidence in an open field and while searching people and a car.

And in demonstrations on officers wearing protective suits, Nero and the other dogs made it very clear that you don’t want to be on the wrong end of their bites.

“I can’t express all the work that goes into these dogs between the handler and the dog,” said Joshua Faust, field training officer with the police department.

– Matt Nanci
reporter