CAMP HILL, Pa. — FOX43 first introduced you to K9 Detective Gibbs last year. The therapy dog brings smiles to students across the Camp Hill School District.
Now the community has the chance to give back in his honor—and get something pretty memorable in return.
For the past few years, K9 Detective Gibbs and his handler, School Resource Officer Joe Capers, have shown their support to Camp Hill students and community members alike.
"Kids will come up and pet him,” said Capers. “They'll say he’s the best thing about school. So just that sense of bringing calm to people and community."
From cheering up the kids at school each day to numerous outreach events, this popular pup's schedule is jam-packed. You could say being that busy is a little "ruff."
So now his many friends can return the favor by sporting a badge in honor of the beloved 3-year-old Golden Retriever.
"So there's no budget items for Gibbs,” said Capers. “So we run his whole program based on donations from the community."
Custom badges are available right now at the Camp Hill Police Department. They are $10 per patch, and all proceeds will go towards Gibbs' care and upkeep.
You'll also find a #25 on the badge, for the Honor 25 Foundation, which brought Gibbs into the district.
"They continue to support him through this day," said Capers. “So we thought what better way than a patch with his face on it because everyone wants to see him."
The foundation was created in memory of Jonathan Fagan, a 2019 graduate of Camp Hill High School who died of a severe allergic reaction. His mother shared with FOX43 last year that Jonathan loved dogs, and she wanted his memory to live on through Gibbs.
"She stepped up, and the foundation gave the money to get Gibbs,” said Capers. “And now he's out in the community every day."
You can pick up a patch at the Camp Hill Police Department or by ordering online.