The Emmaus Lions Club presented the Emmaus Police Department with their new K-9 Ronny at the Emmaus Borough Council meeting June 20.

Ronny, donated by the Emmaus Lions Club, was purchased from Progressive K-9 Academy LLC, Walnutport, and was originally imported from Holland. The price for Ronny, who is a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, was $12,200 which included the 320 hours of training for both the dog and his handler.

Ronny’s partner is Officer Vincent Marante, who has been with the police department for four years. The pair finished their initial eight weeks of training June 24. The training consisted of patrol work, drug detections, tracking and obedience.

The Emmaus Lions Club started the K-9 program in 1990 when they partnered with the Borough of Emmaus to assist in developing the program for the Emmaus Police Department. The club has since purchased all seven of the dogs for the borough as well as the majority of the equipment and training required for the program. The total funding and donations given to the program by the club is over $70,000.

“The result of the contributions and tireless work by members of the Emmaus Lions Club, Emmaus residents, businesses and visitors alike have benefited from the exceptional services provided by the Emmaus police K-9 at very minimal cost to the taxpayers,” Mayor Winfield Iobst said.

Iobst said the police dogs have been responsible for countless apprehensions and arrests over the years including armed robbers, thieves and disorderly individuals. They have also found scores of illegal narcotics.

“Emmaus police canines have provided safety, security and awareness to the public and our law enforcement officers,” Iobst said.

Chief of Police Charles Palmer presented the Emmaus Lions Club with a certificate of appreciation for their “continued and dedicated partnership of the Emmaus Police Department Canine program over the past 26 years.”

“The fund came from all of the community by supporting our fundraisers which we do virtually every month and without your support and donations to our fundraisers, we wouldn’t have a 2-year-old police dog here,” Henry Heil, Emmaus Lions Club Fund of Hope Board chairman, said.

The Emmaus Lions Club was founded in 1917 and is part of a global organization in more than 180 countries.

“Our goal is to be a beacon of hope for those afflicted with sight impairments, families and individuals in need of a helping hand and charitable organizations,” President Don Kaufman said.

Regular meetings are held the first Monday of each month at The Brass Rail, 3015 Lehigh St., Allentown. Board meetings are held the fourth Monday of each month at Mercantile Club, 427 Railroad St., Emmaus.