New K9 Vehicle
Riverside
Township Police
PRESS
RELEASE
In a continuing effort to provide the most efficient law enforcement
services possible to the residents of both Delran Township and Riverside
Township a joint venture was undertaken between the Delran Township Police
Department and the Riverside Township Police Department to improve the
Riverside Police K9 program.
In 2015, the Riverside Township Police Department purchased
a German Sheppard Police K9 named Nikko. The purchase of Nikko was not a
planned purchase, nor was the accompanying costs to outfit and fix the 2003
Ford Crown Victoria that was received with K9 Nikko.
I decided in 2016 that we would attempt to fund the purchase
of a new K9 vehicle for Nikko through a donation drive and different fund
raising events sponsored by the Riverside/ Delran Business Association. Thanks
to their efforts, and individual donations received from the public, we were
able to raise over $7,000.00. Obviously I knew this would not be even a ¼ of
the amount needed to purchase a new patrol vehicle for Nikko.
I was made aware by our K9 handler, Ptl. Anthony Congemi,
that the Delran Township Police Department was in the process of purchasing new
patrol cars and was considering trading in their used Dodge Chargers as part of
their new vehicle purchases.
I contacted Lt. John Williams and discussed the possibility
of purchasing one of their used Dodge Chargers to use as our K9 vehicle. Lt.
Williams worked diligently to get approval from Delran Township Police Chief
Alfonso Parente and the Delran Township Council to assist me in this
undertaking.
On October 4, 2016, the Riverside Township Police took
possession of a 2012 Dodge Charger which was donated to Riverside Township
Police Department by Delran Township. Since that date the K9 vehicle was
up-fitted with all the necessary K9 equipment and it was placed into service on
December 1, 2016.
The working relationship between Riverside Township Police
Department and the Delran Township Police Department has always been outstanding
and this collaborative effort can only help to further improve police services
to all of our residents. Thank You Chief Parente, Lt. Williams and the Delran
Township Council.
William
T. Eliason
Chief
of Police
Township
of Riverside
