By Marty Trese, KnoxPages.com Editor
DANVILLE –The Danville Police Department is still recovering from the devastating loss of Officer Tom Cottrell in January but is moving forward and has welcomed a new K-9 member to its ranks. A Belgian Malinois, named T.C. for Officer Cottrell, has been assigned to work with Sgt. Chad Lishness. Donations from the Danville community made it possible for T.C. to join the department.
Sgt. Chad Lishness with his new K-9 partner T.C. – KnoxPages.com photo by Marty Trese
T.C. was born in Germany three years ago and was trained by Storm Dog Tactical of Sunbury. Sgt. Lishness says T.C. can track guns and narcotics and search buildings, vehicles, and apprehend suspects. T.C. can also make children smile as he did on a recent visit to the Mount Vernon YMCA.
When asked how the morale of the department is now several months after the death of Officer Cottrell Sgt. Lishness said, “We are finally getting things to be positive again. We’re not going away, we’re going to stand and help everybody out when they need help.”
The DPD has three full-time officers and three auxiliary officers, plus two K-9’s. The veteran police dog in the department is Lasko who works with Chief Dan Weckesser. Lasko is due to retire within the next few months.
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