Pubdate: Sat, 09 Aug 2008
Source: Daily Item (Sunbury, PA)
Copyright: 2008 The Daily Item
Contact:  http://www.dailyitem.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1045
Author: Gina Morton
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?237 (Drug Dogs)

EX-ADDICT DONATES $4K FOR POLICE DOG

SUNBURY -- David Woodring said that after overcoming his struggle 
with drug addiction, he wanted to help law enforcement crack down on 
drug crime.

Woodring, the son of Sunbury Mayor Jesse Woodring, presented a $3,800 
check Friday to Northumberland County Sheriff Chad Reiner.

The donation will fund training for Deputy Sheriff Roy Snyder, K-9 
handler, and the department's police dog, Clark.

"I've had issues with drugs in the past so it means something to me," 
Woodring said on Friday. "I think that it's a time where everyone is 
in a financial crunch, especially the government. If you have the 
means, you should step up and make a difference."

The Sunbury resident said he is clean and sober and is "proud to do this."

"It's a great success story," Lt. Joe Jones said. "To see someone who 
can come up in a public setting and say he's had a problem, he's paid 
the price. He can come to a setting and help out with something that 
is nothing but positive for the community."

Reiner said it costs $4,800 for the training, and Woodring's donation 
pushed the funds over the top.

"(The K-9 program) is all through donations," he said. "It's not 
through taxes."

The donated funds cover areas such as dog food, equipment and 
training, among many others.

At the four-to six-week training session in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 
area, Snyder will learn tools such as the German commands to handle 
Clark properly, Reiner said. Clark will learn drug tracking and 
searching, crowd and riot control, obedience and officer protection.

Clark has been with the sheriff's office since May 2007. Snyder 
became K-9 handler after Lt. Wade Lytle resigned in June.

"Clark is happy," Snyder said. "He was already familiar with me from 
the office. His move (to my) home was a lot smoother than I expected. 
He responded great."

Snyder said after the training is complete, Clark will be able to go 
back to work.

"I'm just excited to put him back on the streets," he said. "He 
doesn't like sitting at home."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom