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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The city police and the Wilkes-Barre Crime Watch Coalition are working together to get a dog for the force.</p><p>The city already has one K9. It will cost approximately $14,000 to acquire an additional dog and train it, said Acting Police Chief Marcella Lendacky.</p><p>&#8220;In the past, they never wanted to allow people to make a donation,&#8221; Lendacky said of the city. She said she welcomed the support of the Crime Watch Coalition planning to hold fundraisers.</p><p>Mayor Tony George, a former police chief, backed the effort.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m a big proponent of the K9 units. I think they&#8217;re a great asset,&#8221; George said.</p><p>The idea came up during discussions with the chief and the Crime Watch Coalition.</p><p>Charlotte Raup, president of the Crime Watch Coalition, said the idea was discussed during a talk with Lendacky.</p><p>The city&#8217;s dog is used on just one shift, Raup said.</p><p>&#8220;I think it&#8217;s very important that we have more than one dog,&#8221; she said.</p><p>The Crime Watch Coalition, in conjunction with the police department, set up an account for donations. FNCB set up the account free of charge. The city will have access to the account, Raup said.</p><p>The group plans to hold several fundraisers to cover the cost of the dog and training. Further details will be announced as events are finalized, Raup said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">The Wilkes-Barre Crime Watch Coalition is accepting donations to purchase a police dog for the Wilkes-Barre Police Department. From left, are Amy Campbell, FNCB Customer Service Representative; Sharon Katsock, Wilkes- Barre Crime Watch Coalition Vice President; Charlotte Raup, Wilkes- Barre Crime Watch Coalition President; and Debra Skurkis, FNCB Community Office Manager. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_WBK9.jpg</photo0><caption0>The Wilkes-Barre Crime Watch Coalition is accepting donations to purchase a police dog for the Wilkes-Barre Police Department. From left, are Amy Campbell, FNCB Customer Service Representative; Sharon Katsock, Wilkes- Barre Crime Watch Coalition Vice President; Charlotte Raup, Wilkes- Barre Crime Watch Coalition President; and Debra Skurkis, FNCB Community Office Manager. </caption0><photoCredit0>Submitted photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p>How to donate</p><p>Donations can be sent to Wilkes-Barre Crime Watch K-9 Donation Account, FNCB, 1 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Crime Watch raising money to buy Wilkes-Barre PD a new K-9