MIDDLESEX TWP — A four-legged addition to the township police department impressed all who met him on Wednesday.

Mibo, a 3½-year old German shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix, was approved by the supervisors at their Wednesday meeting to patrol with Officer Mark Heider.

Heider, who has served as Mibo’s handler since 2014, said the canine’s specialty is explosives and firearms detection.

But Mibo is also trained for patrol, where he can assist in a foot pursuit, sweep a building for a suspect in a forced entry or security alarm call, search a building in a bomb threat, or simply use his presence to give his human counterparts the upper hand in an escalating situation.

While the dog could find drugs thrown by a fleeing suspect, Heider said he is not trained as a drug-sniffing dog and could not sweep for drugs at a school or at a traffic stop.

Heider, who originally worked with Mibo for the Armstrong County District Attorney’s Office, said other police departments can request Mibo’s services if needed.

Because Heider is a township officer, Mibo and the vests, muzzles, padded training suit and the myriad of other equipment that accompanies him will come at no cost to the township.

The only outlay will be the nominal amount spent by Heider on the dog’s care and maintenance.

Heider brought the dog into the township building after the meeting was adjourned, where he barked orders at Mibo in German. He said Mibo came to the U.S. as a pup from the Netherlands.

Mike Spreng, chairman of the supervisors, said the addition of a K9 unit will be a benefit to the township and county.

“When the residents see a police vehicle with a K9 in the back seat, I think that’s going to be impressive,” Spreng said.