Police dog earns collar

The dog has been working for the past few weeks.
& lt;a href=mailto:cioffi@vindy.com & gt;By LAURE CIOFFI & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Only one officer can boast taking a bite out of crime in both New Castle and Youngstown.
Rico, a 6-year-old Belgian Malinois, recently came on duty as New Castle's third canine officer. Chuck and Arris, both German Shepherds, are already working with the New Castle Police.
Rico, however, comes with some experience. He worked in Youngstown for about three years before his handler was promoted -- and his new assignment didn't make it conducive for him to work with a canine officer, said Lt. Robin Lees of the Youngstown Police Department.
The dog was given to Tri-State Canine Services in Warren, and owner Dave Blosser offered him to the New Castle Police Department.
Couldn't pass it up
New Castle Police Chief Tom Sansone said it was an offer the department couldn't refuse.
Most police dogs and training cost about $9,000. Blosser was offering the dog for free and the training at $1,000, Sansone said.
"He was already a couple of years older than a new dog, but he's also had experience on the street," Sansone said. Sansone said Mayor Wayne Alexander also gave his approval after learning that the dog and training would cost little in comparison with what they will get in return.
Blosser said one of the reasons he offered the dog to New Castle was because of Officer Mark Darcangelo, who is now Rico's handler.
Darcangelo has spent his own time at Blosser's facility learning about dogs with the New Castle Police Department's two other dog handlers.
"He showed the true desire and passion to want to have a dog and utilize it," Blosser said. "Where today, some people picked for a dog want it because of the perks like a free car. That's not really good. You have got to have the heart and want to work with the dog."
Darcangelo definitely has the heart.
Rico came to him March 12, and the two seem like lifelong buddies with the dog rubbing against Darcangelo's legs in a catlike fashion as the officer rubs the dog's head.
While appearing docile and relaxed as Darcangelo pets him, Rico instantly stands at attention when given a command in Dutch by the officer. The dog also responds to hand signals.
Donation of car
The two will now always work together and Darcangelo is getting a police vehicle marked as a canine unit. It was donated to the department by Jim Marino, owner of Mr. Pizza on East Washington Street.
Until that car is ready, they are sharing a vehicle with one of the other dog handlers. Cars used for canine officers must have specially tinted windows to keep the heat out, the officer said.
Darcangelo said he's mostly been getting to know Rico in the last month. They went through training at Tri-State and have been certified in most fields. They were expected to finish patrol certification today.
Rico has been on the police beat for only a few weeks, and he's already helped track down someone wanted on a felony warrant, assisted the Pennsylvania State Police on a traffic stop and helped the other two canine officers in a drug search at the Lawrence County Jail, Sansone said.
& lt;a href=mailto:cioffi@vindy.com & gt;cioffi@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;