CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – The Conway Police Department is celebrating a $15,000 grant presented by Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation for life-saving equipment for the department.

According to a press release, Conway police received a police dog worth $14,000 to replace the department’s previous patrol dog that recently retired. The new K9 will help officers locate narcotics, track missing people, conduct searches, and build a bond between law enforcement and the community, the release says.

In addition to the K9 officer, Conway police will also receive an automated external defibrillator worth $1,300 to help first responders provide additional assistance if a person goes into cardiac arrest.

“It means a lot to me, I’m a former firefighter and helping the community is part of what I’ve always done and just being here and watching this and helping them do their job good, that’s what i do,” Robert Lepore with the foundation said.

The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was created in 2005 to help provide funding and equipment for first responders and public safety officials. The organization has given more than $23 million to organizations in 46 states, and more than $1.1 million in donations to South Carolina.