May 12, 2016 4 min read

In a few months, Deputy Kristie Mammarella will be a handler for the explosive detection dog that will soon be the newest member of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.

She doesn’t take it lightly.

“With this type of dog, there’s no room for error,” Mammarella said. “You can’t go halfway with the training.”

Mammarella will begin training in June to work with Obie, a 1½-year-old black Labrador who will soon be the department’s bomb-detection and tracking dog. While there are agencies in the county with dogs trained to sniff narcotics, Obie will be the only explosives dog working with a local law enforcement agency in the county.

Mammarella and Deputy Tony Andronas are seeking donations and other funds to cover the roughly $12,500 it’ll cost to buy Obie from Shallow Creek Kennels in Mercer County, and pay for equipment and training for the K-9 program.

By the time he joins the department, Obie will be trained in obedience, tracking and explosives detection.

At Shallow Creek, in South Pymatuning, Obie has already begun learning to sit still when he smells certain explosives or substances with explosive properties

“There’s no budging him,” Mammarella said. “They said, ‘When he hits on something, you’re going to know.'”

She said trainers there have described him as happy and eager to work.

Andronas said Obie will help with security at two county buildings whose security is one of the roughly 40-member department’s responsibilities.

“The ultimate goal is the safety and security of this building (the courthouse) and Courthouse Square,” Andronas said.

Courthouse Square is a building adjacent to the courthouse that contains county government offices.

While those buildings are secured at night, their grounds – and the complex’s parking garage – are not. Part of Obie’s duties will be a daily sweep of those buildings and the areas around them.

Mammarella and Obie will work as a team, with him accompanying her during her shift on the courthouse detail.

The pair will also be available for deputies or other area agencies ask for help.

Obie’s tracking abilities will allow him to assist the department’s fugitive unit and help in searches for people who may be missing.

Sheriff Samuel Romano asked county commissioners in 2008 to allow the department to apply for a state grant to pay for a K-9 program. Commissioners voiced skepticism about whether the department needed an explosives and tracking dog, and didn’t vote on the proposal before the deadline to apply.

Mammarella said she’s watched concerns about terrorism become more acute in the law enforcement community in the 22 years she’s been a cop.

“You hope and pray that your dog will never hit on anything, but it’s nice to know that if it did, you’d have the resources,” she said.

Mammarella said she’ll start the six-week training course at Shallow Creek, during which she’ll learn to work with Obie, late next month. She said the pair will be certified to work together by Aug. 5.

So far, donors have committed to giving between $3,000 to $5,000 of those costs, Andronas said. The deputies have also been in contact with area state Reps. Brandon Neuman and Pete Daley about possible state funds for the K-9 program. Jeff Kotula, president of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, has agreed to speak to area businesses about the possible donations.

Mammarella said she’s looking forward to starting work with Obie.

“I’ve talked to other handlers, and they said it’s a bond that you wouldn’t compare to anything else,” she said.

Those interested in making donations may contact the sheriff’s department at 724-228-6840.