Tech School Students Give Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit SUV A Makeover

Bucks County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Christina Brewerton and her K-9 partner Zeke travel the area in a 2014 Ford Interceptor Utility SUV.

The SUV is outfitted with law enforcement gear, including emergency lights and a K-9 cage in the back. However, the SUV’s exterior, which has more than 150,000 miles on it, was starting to show signs of its age.

Brewerton connected with Bucks County Technical High School collision repair technology teacher William Bacon and his students last year about some exterior work to her vehicle as part of a project for the class.

The students and Bacon said they were up for the challenge.

The SUV, which was blue with gold-colored decals, was brought into the class’ shop at the technical high school in Bristol Township’s Fairless Hills section for the overhaul.

Students spent about a month working out dents, patching spots that needed covering, cleaning off rust, and taking off the fading decals.

The students made the repairs and painted the vehicle black, which matches the current color scheme for the sheriff’s office.

Samantha Levy, a student who worked on the project, said the class had to get a heat gun to get the decals off, fix the dents, use body filler, sand the car, and prime the vehicle before painting it black.

“It was very fun and different. I liked it a lot,” said Levy, who comes to the technical high school from the Pennsbury School District. “It felt like an accomplishment when she came back and liked it.”

The class often takes on projects from the community and was delighted to fix up the K-9 unit, said Bacon, the teacher.

“I thought it was an awesome opportunity to take a project from start to finish and have that accomplishment,” he said.

Brewerton and Zeke, a black Labrador retriever bomb dog, have been responding to calls over the past few weeks in the refreshed SUV.

The students on Monday were presented with a commendation from Sheriff Fred Harran and a chance to see the finished vehicle.

“I truly appreciate the partnership between the sheriff’s office and the tech school. The students did an amazing job and saved us a lot of money as well,” Harran said.

Despite the chilly weather, the students rushed to greet Zeke and take a look at the finished SUV.

Brewerton and Zeke thanked the students for the work they did.

“We were in a pinch to makeover the vehicle, and this was the perfect way to engage the community while getting a much needed face-lift for our K-9 truck,” Brewerton said. “I can’t thank those kids enough for their dedication to our project.”

While the students did the extensive body work, a decal company applied the lettering and sheriff’s seal to the vehicle.

In 2022, the sheriff’s office added Zeke and K-9 Emma, a small shepherd who works with handler Deputy Dale Walton.

In addition to explosives detection, the two dogs are also trained in tracking and have assisted agencies throughout the county. Additionally, they are regular fixtures at community events.

Zeke and Emma were rescued by authorities in Connecticut as part of an animal cruelty case and rehabilitated. The nonprofit Hometown Foundation helped match the dogs with the sheriff’s office.

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