Police departments everywhere should take notice of the potential benefits of helping the federal Drug Enforcement Administration make a big drug bust.

The Evans City Police Department has been able to buy a new canine cruiser, thanks to its canine's sniffing out more than $450,000 in a shoebox in a Cranberry Township residence in July 2008. The DEA eventually found another $200,000 there as well.

As a result of that bust, the Evans City department has received $30,000 for its assistance. Chief Joe McCombs said several thousand dollars remain after the department bought a 2010 Dodge Charger, which will be equipped with a kennel insert and other police items.

According to McCombs, the remaining money will be allocated for training.

Officer Don Myers, who is the handler of Chaos, the Evans City canine in question, said he plans to add his own personal touch to the vehicle — a decal indicating that the dog's transportation is "provided by your local drug dealer."

By way of the bust, Chaos did earn the right to ride in better style than the "maintenance nightmare" that the department has been using as a canine vehicle.

It is to be hoped Chaos has many more successes, big and small, to add to his resume.

The Pennsylvania State Police acted correctly in rescinding permission for one of its troopers to work as an assistant to the Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.The trooper, Ed Joyner of the Washington barracks, is wrong in having appealed the latest state police decision.Joyner's presence with Roethlisberger on the night the quarterback was accused of sexual assault and other unflattering conduct at a nightclub in Georgia did nothing to enhance the image of the state police. The state police were right in characterizing Joyner's presence that night in March as demeaning the state police.Also, if Joyner's work with Roethlisberger was indeed beyond the scope of the work he had received permission for, as the state police contend, that in itself is grounds for the state police action.To many people, the presence of a state trooper with Roethlisberger on the night the quarterback was hit with his second sexual assault allegation — the first one was in Nevada — was eye-opening.Still, good judgment or otherwise, Joyner had the right to file an appeal and he chose to exercise that right.The Pennsylvania State Troopers Association says the state police haven't shown "any justification" for rescinding Joyner's permission.The association is wrong.As details of the Roethlisberger case emerged, people had questioned how the state police could have allowed Joyner to work for Roethlisberger after the first allegation against the quarterback — whether or not that allegation was based on fact.The state police must protect their image. Joyner's continued employment with Roethlisberger would be contrary to that intent.

Some residents who live in and around Butler were pleasantly surprised that Pennsylvania American Water Co. wasn't inundated with waterline breaks during the winter and early spring, stemming from the freezing and thawing of the ground.Many old lines continue to serve the company's local customers, some of those lines dating back to the early 1900s.To its credit, Pennsylvania American is taking corrective action in the city and neighboring Butler Township this year geared toward preventing — or at least lessening the number of — water service disruptions for hundreds, if not thousands, of people.In the city, a big part of the focus will be on Church Street, and in Butler Township the spotlight will be on Penn Avenue in Lyndora — both of which have experienced more than their share of waterline breaks in recent years. In addition to waterline replacement, the work entails installation of new fire hydrants."The new pipe will provide improved reliability, as well as enhanced water pressure and fire protection for our customers," said Mark Smith, field operations superintendent for Pennsylvania American's northwest district.Unfortunately, the water company has much more work of this kind to do in the city and township, based on the age and condition of lines as well as the less-than-optimum water pressure in some neighborhoods.Customers should keep Pennsylvania American informed about such "non-break" issues, so it will be able to target future projects.This year's work will be welcomed by the areas in question, despite the temporary inconveniences involved.Pennsylvania American deserves a thumbs-up for this investment, not only on behalf of its customers but also because of the money it ultimately will save as a result of fewer waterline break calls and less frequent after-hours labor costs.<B><I> — J.R.K.</B></I>