Police K-9 Unit
The Tyrone Police Department’s K-9 Unit was established in 2008 and currently has one team. Patrolman Matt Lutz and his partner K-9 Vilo. Vilo is a German shepherd and was born on May 16, 2007. Vilo was then imported by Tarheel Canine from the Czech Republic in June of 2008. K-9 Vilo and Patrolman Lutz received their initial Police K-9 training at Keystone K-9, in August 2008 and began working patrol in Tyrone in January of 2009. Combining police officers with trained canines enhances public/officer safety, expands police capabilities and improves overall department efficiency.
K-9 Vilo is certified in narcotics detection (marijuana, cocaine, crack corcaine, methamphetamine, heroin and ecstasy), tracking and criminal apprehension. K-9 Vilo also serves as backup to the other officers at the Tyrone Police Department as well as nearby departments on high-risk incidents such as felony arrest warrants, search warrants, building or area searches and high risk vehicle stops. K-9 Vilo and Patrolman Lutz are members of the Blair County Drug Task Force and assist agencies in Blair and surrounding counties. The K-9 team has also conducted drug/locker searches in schools in Blair County such as the Tyrone Area High School, Bellwood Antis Area High School, Altoona Area Vo-Tech, Central High School, and Bishop Guilfoyle High School.
In 2007, a grant was provided by Operation Our Town, Inc., of Blair County. This made the K-9 Unit possible to serve the Tyrone Police Department and Blair County Drug Task Force to fight the war against drugs. This has had and continues to have a major impact in Central Pennsylvania.
The K-9 team is certified annually by James Walstrom, Owner and Master Trainer of www.keystonek9.net in narcotics detection, obedience, and criminal apprehension, under the Eastern Police Canine Association guidelines.
Patrolman Lutz takes Vilo home at the end of his scheduled shift and Vilo is a part of his family. In addition to scheduled shifts, our K-9 team is on-call 24 hours a day and is ready to respond to assist not only Tyrone, but the needs of neighboring law enforcement agencies.
K-9 Vilo’s duties also include public demonstrations and educational discussions at local elementary and middle schools, and events that are requested by the public. If you would like to schedule a K-9 demonstration with your school, group or other function, please contact Chief John Romeo by emailing jromeo@tyroneboro.com or call (814)684-1364.
