Middlesex K-9 team serves and protects communities
MIDDLESEX TWP — A double murder discovered in Westmoreland County on May 17 resulted in the arrest of a man also suspected of blowing up a vehicle and several other shootings.
Handling the incident required the manpower and resources of several departments in the Westmoreland County area, and some beyond.
That included Middlesex Township Police Department K-9 team Officer Mark Heider and Mibo, an 8-year-old German shepherd/Belgian Malinois.
Heider and Mibo responded as part of Region 13, an emergency task force that covers southwestern Pennsylvania. They participated in evidence searches of two locations in connection to the suspect, specifically in North Huntingdon and Penn townships in Westmoreland County.
The Penn Township search resulted in several discoveries, although Heider indicated he couldn't go into detail because of the investigation.
“We found some evidence,” Heider said. “It was a big operation.”
It was just another day in the life of a police dog.
Mibo came to Heider from the Netherlands by way of Germany.The team joined the Middlesex Township Police Department in 2015. Mibo is a dual-purpose dog, providing support for everything from gun detection to tracking to patrols.“He's the only explosives dog in the county,” Heider said. “There aren't that many of them.”Not that every situation requires Mibo's bomb sniffing skills. Because the team often works nights, Heider and Mibo do a lot of building and alarm checks for local businesses.They also give school presentations and provide back-up for things like traffic stops.Mibo's finely-tuned skills might not be needed in every situation, but Heider said it's better to have him on the force when an area is growing the way southwestern Butler County is.“Maybe it's not something we'll use every day,” Heider said. “But it's a damn good resource to have when we need it.”
Heider and Mibo complete regular training and fill down time with exercises. It helps Mibo stay sharp for a variety of assignments.For instance, Heider and Mibo spent a lot of time last year on security details for dignitaries involved in the presidential election. They assisted Secret Service for both former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden when they visited parts of Pennsylvania.In one situation, Heider said he and Mibo searched a cargo plane in a pitch-black hold that required Heider to direct Mibo by flashlight.It was good experience, according to Heider.“Every different environment that you can expose them to, they're better off for it,” Heider said.
Like every human, Mibo has his weaknesses. Heider said this list includes lacrosse balls and Pup-Peroni.Police dogs work for rewards, according to Heider, and Mibo is no exception. His rewards aren't snacks. They're toys.Mibo's toy was an interesting part of Heider's first firearm case with Middlesex Township police years ago, according to Heider.Heider and Mibo were part of the team that responded to a domestic incident involving an intoxicated man with a firearm.The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle that Heider and Mibo later happened upon. Heider ascertained the man was the person police were looking for, but that he'd disposed of the firearm in a field along the way.Mibo located the firearm in 90 seconds.When he returned to Heider for a few rewarding seconds of play time, Heider discovered he'd left the toy behind. Mibo didn't understand.“That was very awkward,” Heider said.
Heider may be Mibo's official handler, but it's the community that provides support for the K-9 unit.Heider said Mibo's work “bumps and bruises” get looked after at Twinbrook Animal Clinic. His food comes from Saxonburg Feed Company, formally known as Saxonburg Agway. He stays at Saxonburg Kennels. He practices tracking at Glade Run Lake.In exchange for responding to any part of Region 13, Mibo's initial expenses and monthly training are secured at no cost through federal funding.“It's not like having a hunting dog,” Heider said. “It's a lifestyle change.”Heider said much has changed from when he got his first police dog in 2007. For one thing, the general public today is more exposed to police dogs.This means Heider and Mibo don't run into as many under-educated citizens on a daily basis as they once might have.That's a positive thing, according to Heider. It makes work transitions easier and helps Mibo perform his duties smoothly.“It's an education process,” Heider said. “Time and exposure and education has really helped.”Mibo's in excellent health, according to Heider, and will have a few more years of service. When Mibo's ready to retire, Heider expects to take a third canine partner.It's a testament to what it means to be an officer who works with a police dog, according to Heider.“I've done a lot of different things,” Heider said. “This is by far the best.”