Since June 2017

K-9 TJ is trained and certified in patrol ie building searches, apprehension and handler protection; tracking; narcotics detection and evidence recovery

In August of 2021 Bridgeport Police were requesting a tracking K-9 team to assist in locating a sexual assault suspect. It was a humid day with the temperature in the high 90’s. The suspect had knocked on a door and a young female answered, the suspect forced his way into a residence and displayed a firearm and sexually assaulted the young victim in the residence and then fled on foot. K-9 TJ started tracking the suspect from the front of the victim's residence. K-9 TJ continued to follow the scent down several different streets and after tracking for over one mile he turned and went up the driveway between two houses. K-9 TJ alerted on the jacket on the ground by a garbage can which showed it had fresh human odor on it from the suspect. K-9 TJ continued tracking the suspect throughout the several neighborhood streets and tracked toward a suspect that Bridgeport Police had recently detained. Once K-9 TJ tracked to the suspect he had no interest in tracking in any other direction or to any other officers or people in the immediate area which confirmed that the suspect BPD had detained was the suspect that fled from the victim's residence. Shortly after the victim made a positive identification that the person detained was the suspect. BPD checked through jacket K-9 TJ alerted on and it was found to be left by the suspect which had the firearm he used wrapped inside.

We absolutely love getting involved with our community and frequently conduct demonstrations for the local schools, girl and Boy Scout troops, town senior center and attend many public events.

"K-9 utilization always varies but on average K9 TJ is utilized multiple times a month and we have assisted several other police departments and federal agencies"

The Easton Police is a small department and typically has only two to three officers working at a time. Having K9 TJ is an amazing force multiplier when needed. Also patrolling Easton, which is almost 30 square miles another officer can be several minutes away but I am never without backup with K9 TJ with me.

Our K9 program is funded SOLELY through donations. There is no budget for the program. Several times a year I organize fundraising which helps pay for TJ's food, veterinary care and training which is what the funds from this grant will be used for.

Instagram @eastonpd_k9tj

I have had the opportunity to serve side by side with K9 Odin since January 2023.

K9 Odin is certified in all aspects of patrol work to include tracking, evidence recovery, building searches, apprehensions and handler protection.

In September 2023, a track was conducted for an elderly male suffering from mental health issues who was reported to be under the influence and had left on foot in an unknown direction. The track spanned over a mile through dense woods and vegetation, down a steep ravine and through a river that K9 Odin and myself had to swim across, subsequently leading to a road where the male was located and transported to the hospital for evaluation.

K9 Odin and myself utilize every opportunity available to be involved with the community not only to demonstrate K9 Odin's abilities but to also bridge the gap between law enforcement and the citizens of our town. Some of the opportunities we have been involved in include K9 demonstrations at the schools as well as at large events that are put on in our community such as the Fourth of July Festival.

The Enfield Police Departments K9 Unit has approximately 150 to 200 deployments a year which include both in town as well as out of town uses making us one of the most utilized K9 Units in North Central Connecticut.

The Enfield Police Department K9 Unit is essential in many ways to not only our department but to our community. The K9 Unit helps in assisting the patrol division and detective bureau with tracking missing and wanted individuals, locating evidence for on going investigations, apprehending suspects and building searches.

The Grant Giveaway money will be utilized to keep up to date training equipment available and to send our handlers to classes to further educate the teams.

2 and 1/2 years

Dual Purpose, narcotics, tracking, article search and apprehension.

These two K-9's have built lasting relationships in our community and around the world. K-9 Joker transitioned to a Community K-9 roll, where he visits schools and does social events. K-9 Joker is also featured in a children's book, this has help further build our bond in the community. K-9 Joker recently wrapped up his third annual K-9 Joker's Toys For Tots Drive 3.0. We were able to raise over $10,000.00 in 2023, for a total of over $23,000.00 in three years. K-9 Bane is the full time patrol K-9, he is all work and not play. We are working more on his social skills. He gained the nickname Bane Train and is well received. K-9 Bane truly loves to work, even on off days we have to find something for him to work on.

These two K-9's have built lasting relationships in our community and around the world. K-9 Joker transitioned to a Community K-9 roll, where he visits schools and does social events. K-9 Joker is also featured in a children's book, this has help further build our bond in the community. K-9 Joker recently wrapped up his third annual K-9 Joker's Toys For Tots Drive 3.0. We were able to raise over $10,000.00 in 2023, for a total of over $23,000.00 in three years. K-9 Bane is the full time patrol K-9, he is all work and not play. We are working more on his social skills. He gained the nickname Bane Train and is well received. K-9 Bane truly loves to work, even on off days we have to find something for him to work on.

They are used daily in our community for work and play.

It has done so much in bringing the community together. It has been a valuable asset for our Community Policing and Engagement efforts.

We won the contest last year and it put a brand new American Aluminum Kennel and heat alarm system inside our new patrol unit. We will use a funds we receive to add additional lighting to our patrol unit for safety, as we do a great deal of traffic enforcement. Also purchase training aids and attend training events.

We are on FB under K-9 Joker & K-9 Bane, IG @opdk9_joker, @opdk9_bane