Macungie police dog Sammy retired after 6-plus years on job

July 02--Sammy, the Macungie Borough police dog that became something of a political football before he was brought on to the force in 2008, has been retired after six-plus years with the department.

The 8-year-old Belgian malinois, who became the hot-button topic of a contentious 2007 Borough Council election, was officially retired Tuesday. Police Chief Edward Harry said the dog will not be replaced.

"I don't feel it's necessary at this point," Harry said of adding a new dog. The chief said police dogs typically give six to eight years of service.

"We were very pleased with the way the program went," the chief said. "We were very happy with Sammy's performance."

Harry said Cpl. Michael Mullen, Sammy's handler, "is at a point now due to his tenure with the department, that he wouldn't be inclined to get a new dog and start the cycle all over again."

Mullen, who has been with the department since 2001, will take ownership of the dog under an agreement that was part of the police department's most recent contract.

Tim Romig, who sold Sammy-related shirts and hats at his automotive repair shop in the borough, said "the whole community is going to miss him."

"I don't think the borough has had anything like this in its history where people went into their pockets to support a program for the borough," Romig said. "People love Sammy."

Sammy was credited with being responsible for a number of drug seizures and fugitive captures during his time with the force. During his first year on the job, he helped police in the arrest of a man who had 411 bags of crack cocaine, 31 bags of heroin, cash and a gun in his vehicle. He also helped nab a Maryland fugitive found hiding under leaves in Alburtis.

Sammy became the center of an unusual campaign issue before he was officially added to the force.

Some council members who ran campaigns in 2007 said they were prompted to seek office, in part, because of council's handling of the dog issue and a decision to deny the department a dog. One councilman opposed to adding the dog threatened to leave town over the issue. Some said the dog would be too expensive and wasn't needed.

That decision prompted public outcry and seemed to galvanize some of the borough's electorate. A new council eventually gave their approval to adding the dog.

The initial costs to start up the K9 program were estimated at around $9,000 back in 2008. Training fees were estimated at $1,500 annually and liability insurance $300 per year. The department's K9-related expenses were largely paid for with donations, fund-raisers and the sale of Sammy-related merchandise.

Harry said the original intent of the program was to have Sammy-related expenses paid for entirely with donations. "It didn't work out that way," he said. "We did use some borough funds for it."

In a May 30 letter to council, Harry wrote that "without the financial support of so many people, the program would never have been possible. It is impossible to list everyone ... who had a part in the support of the K9 program."

Sammy was born in Holland and began his career in Macungie when he was 15 months old, according to the police department's website. He and Mullen went through training together and were certified through the Eastern Police Canine Association.

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