August 23, 2024:  The District Attorney’s newest employee held a press conference this afternoon to introduce himself to the public.  As those of us in the office quickly learned, Tweed is a dog of few words.  He is also very modest and doesn’t like to toot his own horn.  So, he asked Cumberland County District Attorney Seán McCormack to speak on his behalf this afternoon.  

McCormack outlined during the press conference how Tweed, a two-year-old Yellow Lab male, came to be an employee of the District Attorney’s Office.  Back in 2022, McCormack was approached by the Cumberland County Bar Foundation about the possibility of them sponsoring the District Attorney’s Office to apply for the services of a Facility Dog.  The Bar Foundation was able to make this offer due to a generous donation from GIVE to Central PA, inc., who donated all the costs involved with obtaining Tweed’s services.  That was the beginning of a two-year application process with Susquehanna Service Dogs that included personal interviews, home and workplace inspections and meeting with potential facility dogs to determine the perfect match for the District Attorney’s Office.  The process concluded during the first weeks of August this year when Tweed and his office partner, District Attorney Victim Advocate Sarah Junkins, finalized their training period.  On August 12, Tweed began his first day of work in the District Attorney’s Office. 

As we said, Tweed is a dog of few words, but his quiet presence is his strongest feature.  During the past two weeks Tweed has already assisted several victims simply by being at their side.  One victim, afraid that she might freeze up in court in the presence of the man who assaulted her, had Tweed at her side as she confidently recited her victim impact statement to the judge at sentencing.  Another victim found the courage to enter the courtroom because Tweed was at her side as she walked into the room.  That was all the assistance she needed.  Later, after testifying and while awaiting the jury’s verdict, she passed the time cuddling with Tweed.  Tweed shrugs off all the praise that has been directed his way and simply believes that he is doing his job just like everyone else in the District Attorney’s Office. 

McCormack commented about how much Tweed has meant to office morale, “Everyday, those of us who work in the District Attorney’s Office take on the trauma of the crime victims and their families that we serve.  Exposure to this trauma takes a toll on all of us.  Tweed senses when someone is having a bad day and somehow is able to lift our spirits with his simple, quiet presence.  We are so thankful to GIVE to Central PA, inc., the Cumberland County Bar Foundation, and Susquehanna Service Dogs of Granville, PA, for bringing Tweed into our lives.” 

Tweed, like so many of this young generation, has his own Instagram page.  You can follow Tweed on Instagram at tweed_cumberlandcountypa