K-9 issues and the backstory of Columbia's K-9
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Columbia's decision to ban former employee from its property may be 'unconstitutional' [Lancaster Watchdog]
Chris Vera [Columbia Spy file photo] The following information is excerpted from a December 6, 2025 LNP Watchdog article by LNP | LancasterOnline reporter Jade Campos. Still reeling from an abrupt firing from his role as head of the Columbia Market House in March, Chris Vera was surprised to get a letter in the mail from a Columbia Borough attorney two weeks later telling him he was banned indefinitely from borough property. The letter gave no reason for the ban. Nine months later, Vera, who has served as president of the Columbia Historic Preservation Society for more than a decade and has helped with the borough’s comprehensive plan, is still banned from borough property. He believes the ban includes borough parks, which is part of the reason he moved his annual Albatwitch Day festival, which celebrates the myth of a local cryptid, to Wrightsville. Vera said he’s not sure why the borough went to such lengths to keep him away from public spaces given his termination from the borough s...
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"Connie Beury, president of Columbia K-9 Campaign, said the organization had been raising funds for Columbia borough in Lancaster County and the borough police department had acquired four previous dogs through Castle’s K-9 in Mechanicsburg. But a few years ago, the mayor and police chief decided to switch to Price for the newest dog.
"Beury said she heard Price trained dogs for prison work, described prison dogs as 'vicious' and 'would not have one or let one near a child.' The dogs that Castle’s provided and trained, she said, were 'gentle babies.'
"Two weeks into training, Beury said, the officer assigned as handler said, 'This is not for me,' and the borough gave the dog to the Lancaster County Prison. The K-9 Campaign group was eventually reimbursed for the cost of the dog.
"Columbia police Chief Jack Brommer said there was no issue with Price or the quality of the dog."