JEANNETTE CLOSES K9 UNIT

Officials in Jeannette decided yesterday to close the K9 unit of the police department.  The Trib reports that the reason for the closure is due to new and unknown costs making it prohibitive to operate.  Department dog handlers Sgt. Jim Phillips and Officer Matthew Painter this month filed a federal lawsuit against Jeannette, claiming the city violated labor laws by not paying overtime and costs associated with caring for the two dogs, Diesel and Kilo.  The officers claimed they worked but were not paid overtime for up to an hour extra each day to care for the dogs.  Their lawsuit remains pending.