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 among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the non-profit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 134 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses, and Geisinger Health Plan, with 600,000 members in commercial and government plans. The Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,600 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $14 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country.  Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.