Steelers' QB Gives K-9 Grant to Kansas City PD

Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has awarded a grant to the Kansas City (Mo.) Police Department for a dual-purpose police dog.

Roethlisberger's Steelers are playing the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. The grant is the sixth of the season from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund.

The dual-purpose canine will allow a 10-year-old veteran canine to retire. The new canine will be put to work on the during the 2012 MLB All-Star Game and at presidential-candidate events.

During the 2011-12 NFL season, the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation will be distributing grants to K-9 units of police and fire departments in the cities and surrounding communities of each regular season away game for the Steelers. The foundation will also distribute several grants to the Pittsburgh area and will consider grants to any two cities in the U.S. if the Steelers make the playoffs. The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation invited police and fire departments across the country to submit proposals detailing their needs.

"The Kansas City (Mo.) Police Department is thrilled to be receiving this award from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation," Kansas City Police Commander Kevin O'Sullivan said. "The money will be used to purchase a dual-purpose canine for both patrol work and bomb detection. We have a great need for a young energetic pup to take the place of a very experienced dog that will be retired this year."

"We're very fortunate to be in the position that we are able to help these K-9 units," Roethlisberger said. "The work that is performed by the dogs and their handlers as well as the bond that is formed is incredible. We're just thrilled to do our small part."