CHAMBERSBURG – President Judge Shawn D. Meyers administered the oath to the Franklin County Probation and Parole Department’s newest officer, Officer Dudley, in the presence of Probation and Parole Chief Douglas Wilburne and Dudley’s supervisor and primary handler, Kayla Stoner. Multiple officers and staff of the department were present to welcome Dudley.
Dudley is the first court facility dog to serve in the 39th Judicial District. He will primarily support the mission of the Franklin County Probation and Parole Department’s oversight and rehabilitation of individuals under court-ordered supervision, drug treatment court, and general criminal court assistance.
Wilburne explained, “The addition of Dudley reflects our department’s ongoing commitment to evidence-based supervision strategies. His presence will help build trust, reduce anxiety and strengthen engagement with the individuals we serve. These efforts support long-term rehabilitation and contribute to greater community safety. We also look forward to Dudley’s kind spirit bringing comfort and support to our officers and staff as they carry out the challenging work they do each day.”
Dudley will slowly be integrated into the work of the department and the court in accordance with the guidelines established by Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities, the program that raised and trained him in Torrington, Connecticut. His specialized training spanned more than six months, including a week of intensive training with his primary handler and secondary handler, Officer Asharee Edwards. Officer Lilya Gardner and Wilburne will serve as secondary handlers and undergo the same intensive training with Dudley.
Dudley has particular job obligations, and so everyone is asked to cooperate with his handlers’ instructions when interacting with him.
“I am pleased to welcome Dudley as our first court facility dog for the 39th Judicial District,” Meyers said. “I thank the county commissioners for their support of the initiative. Dudley is solely supported through offender fees to assist his fellow officers’ work. He joins court facility dogs in over 17 other jurisdictions throughout the commonwealth who provide support to victims of violent crimes and trauma, supplement probation and parole department initiatives to supervise and rehabilitate offenders and aid those navigating the various drug, mental health and veteran treatment courts in Pennsylvania.”
