Geisinger and Waverly Police Department partner for K-9 services

WAVERLY, Pa. – Geisinger and the Waverly Police Department have partnered to purchase a K-9 police dog to support law enforcement activities and maintain patient and staff safety at Geisinger Marworth.

The dog, a German Shepherd named Wyatt, will join the department this summer after completing the required K-9 training.

At Marworth, Geisinger’s inpatient substance use disorder treatment campus in Waverly, Wyatt will perform regular searches to find and prevent the use of illicit substances, supporting patients’ ongoing recovery efforts.

“Unfortunately, addiction is a relentless and all-consuming illness, and sustained recovery is a life-long journey,” said Jordan Barbour, director of operations for Geisinger addiction medicine. “The ability to perform random searches primarily serves as a deterrent, but also supports the safety of the patient community.”

Previously, Geisinger contracted with a private agency to perform monthly K-9 searches of the Marworth campus. The public-private partnership between Waverly PD and Marworth will allow both entities, as well as the broader Waverly community, to have access to Wyatt’s K-9 capabilities.

“We are beyond thankful to welcome our newest member of the police force K-9 unit, Wyatt,” said Kenneth James, chief of the Waverly Police Department. “We could not have welcomed him without support from our community and partnership with Geisinger. Having a dedicated narcotics K-9 team is an efficient and effective way to help eliminate drugs from Marworth. This creates a safer environment for both patients and staff and reduces criminal activity both inside and outside the facility. Wyatt is a great asset to our team, and I know his duties for the community will not go unnoticed.”

For more information about Geisinger’s partnership with the Waverly PD call 866-250-5730.

About Geisinger
Geisinger is committed to making better health easier for the more than 1 million people it serves. Founded more than 100 years ago by Abigail Geisinger, the system now includes 10 hospital campuses, a health plan with more than half a million members, a research institute and the Geisinger College of Health Sciences, which includes schools of medicine, nursing and graduate education. With more than 25,000 employees and 1,700+ employed physicians, Geisinger boosts its hometown economies in Pennsylvania by billions of dollars annually. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.