Delmont, PA – On behalf of the Delmont Police Department, Chief T.J. Klobucar is issuing a statement following the accident involving the police department’s K-9 and his handler over the weekend.

K-9 Dirk and K-9 Handler Officer Dylan Keffer were involved in an accident while responding to an incident and assisting neighboring Murrysville Police Department on Sunday evening.

Officer Keffer was actively assisting Murrysville Police with an unrelated vehicle accident on Route 22 and was dispatched to respond to another incident within the municipality of Murrysville.

As Officer Keffer was attempting to respond to the second incident, he activated his lights and was subsequently struck by another driver from behind his patrol vehicle.

Both Officer Keffer and K-9 Dirk were transported for medical evaluation and treatment. Both Officer Keffer and K-9 Dirk were released from the hospital and are at home recovering.

Chief Klobucar said, “I am so thankful for the outpouring of support from the community, in addition to the care and consideration we’ve received in regard to Officer Keffer and K-9 Dirk’s health and well-being. We are looking forward to their return to service, and we are grateful their injuries were not more serious.”

Delmont Police and Murrysville Police requested Pennsylvania State Police to respond to the scene to conduct an independent investigation and review of the accident.

“I want to relay my sincerest gratitude to all of the responding departments who assisted with this incident including Pennsylvania State Police, Park Police, Penn Township Police, Murrysville Police, Monroeville Police, Murrysville Medic One, and all of the responding fire departments including White Valley Volunteer Fire Department,” Chief Klobucar said.