A foundation honoring New Kensington police officer Brian Shaw, who was shot and killed in 2017, awarded a $15,000 grant for a new police dog to the Allegheny Valley Regional Police.
The regional police department was created last year with the merger of the Cheswick and Springdale Township police departments.
Before serving in New Kensington, Shaw worked for other local police forces, including Cheswick and Springdale Township.
“I put in for the grant because Brian worked here,” said Mike Naviglia, chief of Allegheny Valley Regional Police.
“Not only was he a great police officer, Shaw was a great guy,” he said.
Naviglia, who is a longtime trainer of dogs for police departments in the region, is looking to retire the department’s current dog, Andor, which is 10 years old.
The cost of a new police dog is about $8,000, while training and other expenses will add another $7,000, he said.
Members of Shaw’s family delivered the check to Naviglia and Michael Girardi, a Cheswick councilman who is on the board of the regional police department.
“It’s a great thing,” Naviglia said. “I am very appreciative and I feel very honored that our department was considered.”
The new dog is expected to be in training later this year.
The Officer Brian Shaw Foundation presents numerous fundraisers for its community work. Details: officerbrianshawfoundation.org
Shaw’s foundation provided funds to New Kensington last year to purchase a dog, Deuce.
