Last month a Pittsburgh Police dog named Rocco was killed after being stabbed while helping officers make an arrest. Now Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is buying a replacement dog.
Roethlisberger announced on his website that his foundation, which has long supported police dogs, will buy a new canine partner for the human officer whose dog was killed.
“The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation started when a police K-9 was shot and killed where I grew up, in Findlay, OH,” Roethlisberger said. “My family and I were moved by what that dog meant to the police force, and learned that similar K-9′s all over the country are helping to keep our communities safe. This last week, a K-9 officer named Rocco was killed in my current hometown of Pittsburgh. After talking with officer Phil Lerza and getting his blessing, the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation would like to announce that we are going to get Officer Lerza a new dog. Rocco can never be replaced, but we only hope to help with the healing process and to provide Officer Lerza with another loyal partner.”
A 21-year-old man named John Rush has been charged with the death of Rocco. He faces up to seven years in prison.