Scott Twp. Police Patrolman James Bassani had just lost in late-October and was still mourning the death of his \u201cbest friend,\u201d protector and police K-9 partner Dave when he received an email last month from Mary Wilding, the mother of late Scranton Police Patrolman John Wilding.<\/p>\n
Wilding said that she\u2019d been offered a Belgian Malinois puppy in honor of her son, John, from a breeder who was willing to provide the prospective police dog for free. The puppy, which Wilding and Bassani ultimately named Redd, was still too young for K-9 training. Wilding acknowledged as much, but noted this was a unique opportunity and asked if Bassani was interested.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd at the time, to be honest with you, I wasn\u2019t 100% sure I was quite ready to get another dog because of the passing of my previous dog,\u201d Bassani said this week of Dave, who was his K-9 partner and a member of his family for about three-and-a-half years. \u201cBut I did know that I wanted to get another one eventually, and when I thought about the totality of the circumstances it was just a real honor and it\u2019s just a really cool opportunity. I mean essentially I\u2019m getting a dog in name and in honor of a local hero who died in the line of duty, and I get a puppy which I can actually bring into my family and I can socialize and I can really build a bond with him, which is really unique.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Scott](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/STT-L-K9-1218-01.jpg\")
Scott Twp. Police Patrolman James Bassani stands beside Mary Wilding as they present Redd, the township\u2019s next police dog, during the Scott Twp. supervisors meeting at the Scott Twp. Municipal Building on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. Wilding wanted to donate the puppy in memory of her late son, Scranton Police Patrolman John Wilding, who had ambitions of becoming a K9 handler. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)<\/p>\n
Patrolman Wilding, 29, died July 12, 2015, from head injuries sustained in a fall while in pursuit of three 17-year-old robbery suspects who fled on foot after crashing a vehicle. A husband and father of two, Wilding had joined the Scranton Police Department in April 2014, per his obituary.<\/p>\n
Mary Wilding and an emotional Bassani introduced the 5-month-old Redd at Tuesday\u2019s Scott Twp. supervisors meeting, where she encouraged everybody to thank the breeder that offered her the puppy, Hagner Strong K9 of Pocono Twp., Monroe County. Wilding said she knew he was a working dog and needed to be with a police officer.<\/p>\n
\u201cJohn wanted to be a K-9 officer,\u201d she said at the meeting, per a livestream of the session broadcast on Facebook. \u201cHe didn\u2019t have that opportunity, and when I saw Officer Bassani\u2019s story about his dog (Dave) I thought \u2018maybe this is the right guy.\u2019 And after I got to talk to him I realized \u2018no, this is the right person for this dog.\u2019 \u201c<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a special dog,\u201d Wilding continued. \u201cHe was raised with a lot of love by the breeder, and I want him to be a dog that\u2019s a part of your community \u2014 a dog that can be around your children and be around the people in your community and be a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Scott](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/STT-L-K9-1218-03.jpg\")
Scott Twp. Police Patrolman James Bassani holds up his new partner Redd during the Scott Twp. supervisors meeting at the Scott Twp. Municipal Building on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. Patrolman Bassani lost his previous K9 partner, Dave, in late October. He wasn\u2019t sure if he was ready to take on a new partner. But after hearing Mary Wilding\u2019s wish to donate a dog in her late son\u2019s memory, Bassani thought taking on a new canine would be a \u201cgreat opportunity to honor a hero\u201d. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)<\/p>\n
The name Redd has a lot of meaning behind it, too, Bassani said, noting it symbolizes Mary Wilding\u2019s love for her late son as well as John Wilding\u2019s passion for being a police officer and desire to become a K-9 handler.<\/p>\n
Township officials presented Wilding with a flower arrangement before bringing Redd in for his debut, though his tenure as a working police K-9 won\u2019t begin for some time.<\/p>\n
Bassani is early in the process of socializing Redd and exposing him to as many different environments as possible, from slippery floors and dark rooms to tight spaces and loud settings. Redd\u2019s youth is conducive to that type of strategic and constructive exposure, Bassani said, noting the pup will eventually attend handler school at K9 Guardian in Annville, Lebanon County, likely in June or July.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy ultimate goal essentially is to turn Redd into what\u2019s known as a dual-purpose K-9,\u201d Bassani said at Tuesday\u2019s meeting, noting he\u2019ll work as a \u201cdrug dog\u201d in narcotics investigations but also help find missing persons and assist in tracking, evidence recovery and suspect apprehension.<\/p>\n
![\"Scott](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/STT-L-K9-1218-04.jpg\")
Scott Twp. Police Patrolman James Bassani walks his new partner, a 5-month-old Belgian Malinois named Redd, into the Scott Twp. supervisors meeting at the Scott Twp. Municipal Building on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)<\/p>\n
Bassani, who called Mary Wilding an \u201cincredible person,\u201d also thanked Scott Twp. officials. He described the whole situation as \u201ca huge honor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very, very grateful for the opportunity and the fact that she considered me for this puppy,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m just blessed that this whole thing came to fruition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked what the donation means to his family still mourning the loss of K-9 Dave, Bassani said he wanted to reflect on the question before answering. He followed up in a text message.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt gives me a partner that helps me come home safely at night, somebody who will always have my back\u2026 my protector,\u201d Bassani said, adding that knowing the community is safer, too, \u201cbrings a lot of joy to us.\u201d<\/p>\n
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