By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
RIVERVIEW – Police Chief John Allen and Mayor Andrew Swift thanked WF Whelan CEO Steve Capser Nov. 2 for $19,000 in financial support for K9 officer acquisition and training.
The new K9 officer, aptly named Whelan, is paired with Riverview Police Officer Christopher Schramm. The team was introduced Nov. 2 during the city council meeting during which Capser was publicly thanked and recognized for the donation.
Whelan was born May 18, 2025, in Quedlinburg, Germany, and in April 2026 joined the Riverview Police Department.
K9 Whelan will receive four years of ATF, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives training in Taylor, Michigan.
K9 Whelan’s training in tracking, article, area and building searches, obedience, aggression control and narcotics detection will provide valuable assistance to police officers.
On July 23, 2026, Schramm and Whelan successfully completed certification testing through the National Association of Professional Canine Handlers in patrol and narcotics detection.
Mayor Swift thanked the WF Whelan Company for both its financial contribution and for its shared dedication to the safety and quality of life of the residents of Riverview.
“We commend WF Whelan Company for its outstanding example of corporate citizenship and recognize with appreciation the lasting benefits its support will provide to our police officers and the people they serve,” he said in the proclamation.