SCRANTON — The city Police Department’s K-9 Unit visited Wednesday an apartment building for older adults in the city to thank the nonprofit facility for donating $3,000 to the squad.
Webster Towers gave the donation to the city, as well as a $3,000 donation to the city Fire Department, last year as a “payment in lieu of taxes,” also called a PILOT, said Webster Towers manager Pamela Allgood.
Webster Towers, an eight-story, senior apartment complex at 500 N. Webster Ave. in the city’s Hill Section, is a nonsectarian, nonprofit organization providing housing for older adults and people with mobility disabilities.
A few dozen residents gathered in a large room to hear city police officers talk about their K-9 dogs and their training, diets and duties. The residents delighted in seeing the dogs put through some paces by their handlers and getting a chance to interact with the furry friends.
The city has five K-9 dogs: Aiden, a 17-month-old Belgian Malinois handled by Officer John Cantafio; Rock, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois handled by Officer Scott Benzeleski; Scout, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois handled by Officer Matthew Grippo; Spike, a 10-year-old Dutch shepherd handled by Officer Kyle Kemp; and Attyro, an 8-year-old German shepherd handled by Officer Robert Stelmak.
The dogs stay and live with their handlers. Of the five pairs, Kemp and his dog, Spike, were not able to attend the event at Webster Towers on Wednesday.
The city’s K-9 force will reduce from five to four dogs when Stelmak retires April 2 because Attyro will retire with Stelmak, he told the crowd.
Stelmak began as a police officer with the city Dec. 31, 1993, and has been a K-9 handler since 2003. Over those years, Stelmak has had three police dogs.
“I’m going to miss the job. Working a dog is phenomenal,” Stelmak said.
Scranton’s K-9 Unit visited the Webster Towers senior-citizen apartment building in the Hill Section on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. Photo shows Scranton Police Officer Robert Stelmak, at right, and his police dog, Attyro, during their visit with residents. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
