UPPER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — Upper Macungie Police Department has a new four-legged recruit.
Upper Macungie Sergeant Matthew Gardner introduced his new K-9 Nyala to the township Board of Supervisors at Thursday’s meeting.
- Upper Macungie Police Department has a new K-9 named Nyala
- Sergeant Matthew Gardner, the department's K-9 officer, said Nyala will start training in September
- In other news, the department has a new officer, who is a 2014 Parkland graduate
Nyala was introduced to the public during the K-9 demonstration at Tuesday’s National Night Out event.
Nyala is the third K-9 Gardner has trained. He said he chose her because she had the right traits to be a good police dog, and she is distantly related to Bico, his former K-9.
New Upper Macungie Police Department K9 Nyala
Gardner said it has not been difficult to form a bond with her.
“She jumped into my lap the second we picked her up at the airport,” Gardner said.
Gardner said he named Nyala after the antelope species. He said first saw a video of Nyala while he was on vacation in South Africa, and saw a group of nyalas soon afterward.
“I thought it would be perfect,” Gardner said.
Nyala will start training at the K-9 academy in September.
Other UMTPD news
Supervisors also held the badge-pinning ceremony for David Fritsche, a 2014 Parkland graduate who previously was an officer with Bethlehem Police Department.
Fritsche received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice at East Stroudsburg University in 2017 and completed his certification through the Allentown Police Academy in 2019.
He also volunteers for the Upper Macungie Township Station 56 fire department.
"We need to continue to be able to provide the same level of service we have all become accustomed to."
Police Chief Mike Sitoski
Two other new police officers had badge-pinning ceremonies at May’s supervisors meeting. The department now has 30 officers, an increase in staff that Police Chief Mike Sitoski said is needed because of the township’s growth.
“As you all know, the township continues to grow," Sitoski said at the meeting. "Therefore, we need to continue to be able to provide the same level of service we have all become accustomed to.”
Sitoski also introduced the department’s new community resource officer Julia Poapst. She formerly was a patrol officer for the department and will take over the role for Officer William Roarbach, who will become a full-time school resource officer.
In Poapst’s new role, she will lead the department’s HUB program, which directs people to local services, become a DARE officer, assist in outreach and create new programs.
“She has a lot of fresh ideas that we’re excited to implement,” Sitoski said.