Saying it would bolster the town’s efforts to rid New Canaan of drugs such as heroin, police on Wednesday proposed acquiring a second K-9 dog for the department.
A Labrador retriever’s work would include drug detection and tracking—much as the dog in place since last summer, Apollo the German shepherd, performs those duties and additionally is trained for patrol and apprehension—and also would boost the department’s community relations, K-9 Officer David Rivera told members of the Police Commission at their regular meeting.
“A lot of times when I do demonstrations, I restrict people petting him [Apollo]— that is just me being a good handler to the town,” Rivera said at the meeting, held at NCPD headquarters. “That being said, getting Labrador retriever, all the kids would be able to pet the lab and we would be in a really great position to provide this community with something that a lot of communities do not get, and that is interaction with police officers.”
He added: “I feel we have an opportunity in working in one of the best police departments in the state of Connecticut to have the best K-9 program. What would really help with combating the heroin epidemic and drugs we see coming into the town would be the implementation of another K-9.”
The police department’s K-9 program is paid for entirely out of a private fund that’s supported by donations. Right now, it stands at some $110,000, Rivera said. The new dog—training for the animal as well as for the officer that would manage it—would cost about $60,000. Wednesday’s meeting also included plaques of appreciation given to Pet Pantry on Grove Street and the New Canaan Veterinary Hospital on Vitti Street—both local businesses supply (dog food) and serve (physical upkeep) the NCPD’s K-9 dog, pro bono.
Allocating the money from the established fund would require support from the Board of Selectmen. Though the Police Commission deferred a formal vote to its May meeting, each member of the panel voiced support for the second K-9. The second K-9 officer would be Shane Gibson, known to many locals as the NCPD member who last May saved a choking victim’s life downtown, for which he received a Meritorious Police Duty Award.
“I see it as an additive here, as another tool in our belt, but also to help community relations,” Commissioner Paul Foley said. “I think the more we get either of you out of cars and on the streets interacting more with the public, it’s a positive—for the department, ourselves and all of us.”
A male chocolate lab that Rivera said would be “perfect” for New Canaan is now available, and could be trained in August if approvals are granted.
Commissioners asked about how the two dogs would work together (they’d be on alternating full-time shifts, increasing coverage), how many K-9 units nearby towns have (one in Darien and Wilton, two in Westport, two in Fairfield and five in Norwalk and Stamford), who supervises the K-9 officers (Lt. James George) and whether the fund’s $110,000 is in hand (no, $20,000 is from a single donor and contingent on securing a second dog, and about $3,000 is pledged to come in from local businesses).
Rivera described one recent instance where Apollo was dispatched to Norwalk on a motor vehicle stop that had yielded no evidence of narcotics until his arrival. Apollo indicated to Rivera that he picked up a scent of narcotics on the driver’s seat, prompting police to send for a female officer who patted down the suspect and turned up several bundles of heroin hidden on her person, Rivera said.
Asked for his thoughts on a proposed second police dog, and a Labrador retriever in particular, Police Chief Leon Krolikowski said the addition aligns perfectly with the department’s goals of reducing narcotics in town as well as increasing community involvement.
“This frankly is a dog-friendly town and people love animals and they’ve been generous” with the K-9 fund, Krolikowski said. “It’s great public relations. We’ve been very lucky that there have been no heroin overdoses in the two years we have been tracking it, and we’ve had Narcan for 18 months and haven’t used it yet, and I would like to make it so difficult for heroin to get into town that we don’t have it.”
Re: “The police department’s K-9 program is paid for entirely out of a private fund that’s supported by donations. Right now, it stands at some $110,000, Rivera said. The new dog—training for the animal as well as for the officer that would manage it—would cost about $60,000. Wednesday’s meeting also included plaques of appreciation given to Pet Pantry on Grove Street and the New Canaan Veterinary Hospital on Vitti Street—both local businesses supply (dog food) and serve (physical upkeep) the NCPD’s K-9 dog, pro bono.”
According to the article private donations = $110,000 – $60,000 (training + purchase of new K-9 dog) = $50,000 (available funds)
It is indeed quite admirable for Pet Pantry and New Canaan Veterinary Hospital to supply dog food and medical services pro bono.
I have a 90 pound senior dog with health issues (cancer, arthritis and hypothyroidism). My annual cost for premium dog food and vet care is approximately $1,500 per year.
It is hard to justify the town needing two police dogs. The ability to sniff out teenagers cannabis aside, it costs too much and is completely unnecessary. Heroin is certainly a scary word to throw out there but his much heroin has the current K-9 unit removed from town? And the dog being more receptive to petting is also not a reason to do this. I support NCPD but there is no way they need another K-9 unit.
I’m expecting to Labador retriever waiters at the end of June and would like to donate one of the pups to someplace that would need one for canine or for the blind maybe you could send me back a message and let me know where I could get information on who to get in touch with?
I meant two litters no waiters. Sorry
On behalf of he staff at New Canaan Veterinary Hospital, I am very grateful for the recognition that NCPD has given us. We have provided care for three of the NCPD dogs over the last several years, and have also provided care for the NCPD dog who served our community over 25 years ago. This does not include the pro bono work we have done for the Animal Control department over the past 25 years as well, through the careers of Office Klenschmidt and Officer Cogswell. Our services have included comprehensive evaluation of each dog, with radiologic, hematologic, and other diagnostic tools, to provide the Town with an expert opinion as to the physical suitability of each dog for its intended task. While our contribution is substantial, certainly going beyond routine care, it is only one facet of what it costs to provide such a highly trained animal to the Department, and other private donations have carried the balance of what has been needed to ensure that this service is not a burden to the taxpayer.
Although we are a small town, the drug problem is far greater than most of us citizens believe. Heroin is inexpensive, and is now more potent than ever, making the risk of overdose ever more likely.
The addition of another dog who can indicate the presence of dugs and can track as well can only enhance our ability to protect our citizens on a 24 hour 7 day a week schedule. In addition, these fearless creatures will gladly go in to harms way, without hesitation, to guard their master’s life, even if it means the end of their own. What we are talking about is the potential to save the lives of police officers in situations in which they would otherwise be compelled to expose themselves to lethal force. In essence, there is no rational argument against this program from a cost, drug prevention, and safety standpoint.