Derry Borough residents had a lot of questions but didn’t get any answers from council members Tuesday night after they met for the first time since the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office announced evidence does not support a criminal charge in the death of the borough’s police dog, Smoke.
Several of the more than 50 people in attendance expressed doubts about the version of events put forth by borough solicitor Lee Demosky regarding the incident involving Smoke.
“It seems his trained handler was not doing his job,” said Jasen Lentz of borough police Chief Randy Glick, who was not in attendance. He was one of many with questions about the incident that led to Smoke’s euthanization, which occurred at Glick’s home.
Smoke was injured Aug. 25 in Glick’s backyard, when he confronted one person aggressively, bit another and got into a fight with a family dog, according to Demosky.
Glick ultimately deployed a Taser on the family dog to stop the fight, Demosky said. Three days later, a veterinarian’s examination revealed serious injuries to Smoke’s rectum and anus. Demosky said officials discussed surgery but were told by the vet euthanization was the “most humane” option.
Borough officials would not confirm if Glick was injured in the incident.
“Waiting three days to take an injured animal to the veterinarian is unacceptable,” Lentz said, before requesting that Glick, Mayor Grant Nicely and council President Sara Cowan resign their positions. It was a sentiment echoed by Councilman Al Checca toward the end of the meeting.
Neither Nicely nor Cowan offered to resign.
“Mayor Nicely oversees the police department. He should have demanded that Chief Glick take Smoke to an emergency veterinarian,” said former borough mayor Alanna DeRito-Gaudiello. “I understand that the chief was hurt, but a plan should be in place for this type of emergency.”
The department received Smoke, a Malinois pup from Holland, in 2020. DeRito-Gaudiello was instrumental in bringing the program back after it briefly ended in late 2019.
At Tuesday’s meeting, council voted unanimously to end the borough’s police dog program, to remove K-9 equipment from Glick’s police vehicle and return it to daily rotation within the department.
Derry Police Sgt. Douglas Sam, who has been acting in Glick’s place since Aug. 28, will receive a pay increase according to the borough police contract, having acted as chief for more than 22 consecutive days.
The meeting was raucous at times, with audience members shouting questions and jeering at council members when they refused to answer questions about the incident or about Glick’s status. Council President Sara Cowan declined to answer when asked if Glick is receiving workman’s compensation.
“Perhaps we should let the Westmoreland County (District Attorney’s) detectives do their work,” borough resident Matt Wilson said. “I don’t know if their investigation is over.”
The Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office conducted an investigation and announced in early October that no charges would be filed.
Resident Shaun Olszewski said too many people at the meeting were talking without knowing the facts.
“All these Monday-morning quarterbacks want to get on social media and act like they were there,” Olszewski said.
Several in attendance expressed their dismay not just at the lack of clarity over the incident but also that the dog’s remains were cremated along with a group of other deceased pets and animals.
DeRito-Gaudiello said she has been in contact with local churches and other police dog handlers to try and organize a memorial for Smoke.
Checca said he was asking for the mayor and Cowan to resign “to let the community heal.”
“We want answers, and we want justice for K-9 Smoke,” Lentz said.
Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Patrick by email at pvarine@triblive.com or via Twitter .
