SEPTA Transit Police is adding four new recruits to their K-9 Unit later this spring.
The SEPTA Transit Police K-9 unit has been in service for more than 30 years. The four new recruits will bring the unit total to 14 teams of handlers and dogs.
All dogs are trained in-house at SEPTA’s K-9 training facility at Midvale District. All dogs receive explosive detection training and 10 of the 14 are/will be trained in apprehension, tracking, and article searches.
On a typical shift K-9 units conduct daily explosive sweeps of critical locations, respond to investigate unattended items, and ensure stations are safe before large events. Our K-9 teams regularly work with regional law enforcement to assist with searching large buildings and facilities and work with national partners at major events such as Super Bowls and Presidential inaugurations.
Our Transit Police K-9 handlers are responsible for their partners 24/7.
They take them home every day and they are allowed to interact with the officer’s family.
Officer DellaVecchio and Swen (pictured above) were honored to be selected by Homeland Security in 2025 to work at the Super Bowl in New Orleans. The opportunity to be part of a high-security national event especially one featuring her hometown team was a career highlight! Swen was trained through the TSA Homeland Security program. Together they completed a rigorous 12-week bomb detection training course at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
Man, woman, and SEPTA’s best friends!