A yellow lab from a trainer down south, Fran Chevy initially came up to the village of East Palestine to be the police department’s newest K-9 officer.

He replaced K-9 Toney –the department’s first dog served for 12 years before retiring in 2024.

Espial Canine Services, which provides the village with their K-9 units, trained both dogs.

Fran Chevy is a trained tracking, narcotic detection and article searches dog named after Fran Beers, who had been a beloved longtime dispatcher for the department.

Out of their police gear. East Palestine patrolman Cierra Coontz poses for a snapshot on a Michigan beach with her K9 Fran Chevy, as the team got recertified with the National Association of Professional Canine Handlers. (Submitted photo)

The team recently became recertified through OPOTA (The Ohio Police Officer Training Academy.)

However, he still finds time to enjoy life with a high level enthusiasm. High-energy reminiscent of the Tasmanian Devil when in play mode, loving toys like tugs, Fran Chevy is all business when on the job.

Coontz explained that tennis balls are his absolute favorite, as the yellow lab eyes the bulbs on a Christmas tree in the police station lobby longingly. He knows, though, not to touch, which he attributes to the bulbs shiny look and different texture, signaling he may have tried previously.

Coontz especially commended Fran Chevy’s narcotics detection as well as the drive associated with it, explaining as one of the newer K9s on the road that he is not trained to detect on marijuana. However, those with crack, heroin or meth stashed in their pocket or car console need to know of his prowess.

January 18 will mark his second service anniversary with East Palestine.

Coontz, who lives with her son within Columbiana County, will be with East Palestine police for four years in July.

After initially starting as a dispatcher, the department sent her to the police academy in August 2023. She began certified and road-ready in 2024.