{"id":19334,"date":"2020-09-08T20:36:48","date_gmt":"2020-09-09T00:36:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/?p=19334"},"modified":"2020-09-08T20:36:48","modified_gmt":"2020-09-09T00:36:48","slug":"wyoming-county-perry-police-department-launches-new-therapy-dog-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2020\/09\/08\/wyoming-county-perry-police-department-launches-new-therapy-dog-program\/","title":{"rendered":"WYOMING COUNTY\/Perry Police Department launches new Therapy Dog Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Submitted photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Press release<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summer may be ending, but the \u201cdog days\u201d are just beginning in the Village of Perry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With support from local business partners Pioneer Credit Recovery and Perry Vet, Perry Police Chief Michael J. Grover has sworn in the newest member of the Perry Police Department, a Police Therapy Dog named Rocky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program, made possible by a donation from Pioneer, is the first of its kind in the region and partners a Perry Police Officer with a canine, specially trained as a “Therapy Dog” for law enforcement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a time when our communities are facing true hardships between COVID-19 and perceived mistrust in law enforcement, Chief Michael Grover says there couldn\u2019t be a better time for this sort of resource in our community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Locally, the Erie County Sheriff\u2019s Office has had great success with their two Therapy Dog partnerships which deployed two trained deputies and their canine partners in school districts as School Resource Officers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief Grover and Officer Matt Masci saw the opportunity to bring the same type of program to their community and into their schools.
When pitched to Village Mayor Rick Hauser, the Village Board of Trustees, and the Perry Central School District, all agreed the timing of such a program was never so important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are fortunate to have a thoughtful local business and dedicated police department support this innovative initiative. The Therapy Dog program will enhance our students\u2019 experiences at PCS,” says Superintendent Daryl McLaughlin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Submitted photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Rocky will work alongside Officer Masci full time during this school year from Pre-K to 12th Grade. Additionally, Rocky has undergone specific training that makes the pair a valuable resource in the community when working with juvenile victims, victims of domestic violence, or other
tragedies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Children don\u2019t always feel confident speaking to adults or police officers, but bringing a dog in really changes the dynamic of the room in a troubling time,” says Officer Masci. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officer Masci says that even adults can use a mental health break occasionally and can find that same comfort in having a canine companion around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


While Rocky does have months of training under his belt and is a working Police Dog, he is not cross trained in narcotics or explosive detection like common Police K9 partnerships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This pair will be exclusively deployed in the Village of Perry as an advocate for those needing their services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Our officers have connections to our community, and they take seriously the trust we place in them to protect and serve. I\u2019m proud of their proactive stance and Rocky is a great example of that approach,” says Mayor Hauser
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The funding opportunity from Pioneer Credit Recovery, spearheaded by CEO Jeff Mersmann, has helped the Police Department fund the pair\u2019s training as well as outfitting Officer Masci\u2019s patrol car to accommodate a safe and climate controlled cabin for Rocky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Police Department is also excited and grateful for the opportunity to partner with Perry Vet as they will be the exclusive care provider for Rocky when it comes to all basic and annual needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur local partners have really stepped up for our community and, most importantly, for our kids\u201d said Chief Grover.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community members can expect to see Officer Masci and Rocky in the halls of Perry Central, around town at special events, and out for plenty of walks and adventures as Rocky learns all the great things Perry has to explore.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Press release Summer may be ending, but the \u201cdog days\u201d are just beginning in the Village of Perry. With support from local business partners Pioneer Credit Recovery and Perry Vet, Perry Police Chief Michael J. Grover has sworn in the newest member of the Perry Police Department, a Police Therapy \u2026<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19335,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-perry-perry","category-wyoming-county"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8eTP4-51Q","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6823,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2018\/11\/15\/perry-police-report-teen-arrested-for-torturing-an-animal\/","url_meta":{"origin":19334,"position":0},"title":"PERRY POLICE REPORT\/Teen arrested for torturing an animal","author":"aka","date":"November 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Following an investigation by the Perry Police Department into an animal cruelty complaint on November 15, 2018, Gavin W. Harkins, 18, of Perry, was arrested under Agriculture and Markets law 353; torturing an animal. Harkins allegedly took a lighter and singed off an area of hair on an acquaintances pet\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Perry"","block_context":{"text":"Perry","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/perry\/perry-perry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Harkins-Gavin-W.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Harkins-Gavin-W.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Harkins-Gavin-W.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Harkins-Gavin-W.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Harkins-Gavin-W.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31384,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2022\/03\/21\/perry-police-report-perry-man-charged-with-animal-abuse-accused-of-throwing-a-10-12-week-old-dog\/","url_meta":{"origin":19334,"position":1},"title":"PERRY POLICE REPORT\/Perry man charged with animal abuse, accused of throwing a 10\u201312-week-old dog","author":"aka","date":"March 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release PERRY, NY- Chief Michael J. Grover reports the arrest of a Perry resident on a misdemeanor charge following an investigation by the Perry Police Department. Following an investigation from March 17th, 2022, Michael B. Salamone, 24, of Perry was arrested on charges of animal abuse. The investigation was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Perry"","block_context":{"text":"Perry","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/perry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Perry-PD.jpg?fit=320%2C320&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":56490,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/08\/31\/wyoming-county-police-agencies-come-together-for-alerrt-training-at-perry-elementary-school\/","url_meta":{"origin":19334,"position":2},"title":"WYOMING COUNTY\/Police agencies come together for ALERRT Training at Perry Elementary School","author":"aka","date":"August 31, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"(Provided photo-Megan Winter\/Public Relations Specialist\/GVBOCES\/Perry\/Warsaw Schools) Five area police agencies in the GLOW region came together at Perry Elementary School on Thursday and Friday for 16 hours of emergency response training as part of the ALERRT Program. Michael Grover, Chief of the Perry Police Department, organized the ALERRT training sessions\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Perry"","block_context":{"text":"Perry","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/perry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/DSC_0823-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C795&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/DSC_0823-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C795&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/DSC_0823-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C795&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/DSC_0823-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C795&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/DSC_0823-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C795&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":63284,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/04\/03\/perry-police-department-recognized-for-excellence-in-policy-management-and-training\/","url_meta":{"origin":19334,"position":3},"title":"WYOMING COUNTY\/Perry Police Department recognized for Excellence in Policy Management and Training","author":"aka","date":"April 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release The Perry Police Department announced today that it has been recognized for excellence in policy management and training in 2024 by the leading provider of solutions that empower performance excellence in public safety. This is the 3rd consecutive year The Perry Police Department has been recognized. The Lexipol\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Perry"","block_context":{"text":"Perry","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/perry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Perry-PD.jpg?fit=320%2C320&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":19789,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2020\/10\/03\/perry-police-report-perry-man-accused-of-stealing-a-vehicle-from-a-dealership\/","url_meta":{"origin":19334,"position":4},"title":"PERRY POLICE REPORT\/Perry man accused of stealing a vehicle from a dealership","author":"aka","date":"October 3, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"After an investigation, the Village of Perry Police Department arrested Carl M. Vander, no age or address provided, of Perry, NY. It is alleged that during the overnight hours on October 1, 2020 into October 2, 2020, Vander stole a motor vehicle from a dealership in the Village of Perry.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Perry"","block_context":{"text":"Perry","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/perry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Vander-CArl.jpg?fit=1200%2C891&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Vander-CArl.jpg?fit=1200%2C891&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Vander-CArl.jpg?fit=1200%2C891&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Vander-CArl.jpg?fit=1200%2C891&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Vander-CArl.jpg?fit=1200%2C891&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":77390,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2026\/07\/21\/wyoming-county-perry-police-department-looking-for-help-from-the-public-in-animal-cruelty-investigation\/","url_meta":{"origin":19334,"position":5},"title":"WYOMING COUNTY\/Perry Police Department looking for help from the public in animal cruelty investigation","author":"aka","date":"July 21, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Perry Police Department is investigating a disturbing case of suspected animal cruelty that occurred this afternoon, July 21,2026, on Simmons Road At approximately 2:45 p.m., officers were alerted to several kittens in the roadway on Simmons Road between Rt. 20A and Page Road. Upon investigation. officers located four deceased\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Perry"","block_context":{"text":"Perry","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/perry\/perry-perry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Perry-PD.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ROCKY-GROUP.jpg?fit=828%2C621&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19334","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19334"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19334\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19338,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19334\/revisions\/19338"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19335"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}