Area Police Departments get K-9 help

The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation has handed out nearly 100-thousand dollars in grants to bolster local police K-9 programs. The foundation was launched when Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger donated a dog and bulletproof K-9 vest to his hometown police department of Findlay Ohio. The department’s dog was shot and killed in 2006. After making the donation Roethlisberger decided to make similar donations in every city the Steelers visited in the 2007 season. Today he turned his focus closer to home giving grants to Pittsburgh area departments including the city of Pittsburgh, Fox Chapel, Brentwood and Homestead. Homestead police chief Jeff says the grant will allow his department to put a dog back on the street for the first time in nearly a year. Roethlisberger says he hopes to make more grants during the 2008 season.