Middlesex Township hires K-9 handler previously charged with harassment
MIDDLESEX TWP — The township’s new K-9 handler, who was officially sworn in on Wednesday evening, Nov. 20, pleaded guilty in September 2022 to a summary harassment charge.
William Rapone II was accused of inappropriately touching a then-16-year-old girl at his own 21st birthday party in May 2021. According to a report from WPXI, the incident happened before he became a police officer.
He was originally charged in August 2022 with misdemeanor counts of corruption of a minor and harassment, but pleaded guilty to a lesser offense. According to the court docket, Rapone pleaded guilty to harassment and was fined $300.
“The township was made aware of the incident during the interview process and reviewed the outcome,” said Middlesex Township manager Jeffrey Winkle. “Officer Rapone’s background was thoroughly investigated and reviewed by Middlesex Township prior to making an offer for employment.”
Rapone, who became an officer in February 2022, resigned from his position at the Gilpin Township Police Department in Westmoreland County when the department began investigating the incident.
Rapone then went to work at the Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department in Leechburg, Armstrong County. He served as K-9 handler there until he was hired by Middlesex Township.
“Officer Rapone resigned from Gilpin Township, but then was subsequently hired by the Southern Armstrong County Regional Police Department, which includes Gilpin Township,” Winkle said. “He continued to work at Southern Armstrong until his effective date of hiring with Middlesex Township.”
Attempts to reach the township supervisors were not successful.
Rapone was sworn in as Middlesex Township’s new K-9 handler on Wednesday by District Judge Jack D. Ripper. Rapone was accompanied by his police canine, Veegee, a Belgian malinois who is trained to sniff out narcotics.
The hiring marks a return of a police dog and handler to Middlesex Township after a four-month absence. The township’s previous K-9, Bolt, was transferred to the Saxonburg Police Department in July, along with his handler, Mark Heider.
“The public wanted us to have a K-9. We got a lot of support saying, ‘Why don’t you get another K-9?’” Winkle said. “We actually put an advertisement out for officers and asked if anybody has a K-9 and has interest. Mr. Rapone replied that he was interested. We interviewed him and we liked him, and it’s a good fit for Middlesex Township.”
Also sworn in on Wednesday evening was police officer Steven Dunkerley, who was a sergeant at the East Pennsboro Police Department near Harrisburg in Cumberland County.
Dunkerley was once a K-9 handler himself, having once handled dogs named Vagany and Vader for East Pennsboro.
