MIDDLETOWN -- It was a special day at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden on Thursday.
The State Police Canine Training Unit graduated its 184th patrol canine class, making eight new dogs into officers:
- K9 Tango will team up with Officer Joshua Trifone of the Department of Corrections
- K9 Ardo will team up with Officer John Wilson of the East Hampton Police Department
- K9 Nova will team up with Officer Michael Colantuono of the Enfield Police Department
- K9 Kobe will team up with Officer Brittany Bartlett of the Guilford Police Department
- K9 Koda will team up with Officer Matthew Bloom of the Middletown Police Department
- K9 Blitz will team up with Officer Michael Silva of the Waterbury Police Department
- K9 Dexter will team up with Trooper William Veras with State Police Troop B - North Canaan
- K9 Murphy will team up with Trooper First Class Michael Zmayefski of State Police Troop E - Montville
The program is 15 weeks, and serves 42 departments across the state.
An extra treat at Thursday's festivities was offered up by Janina Howard, a 10-year-old girl from Hebron, who sold cookies she baked to raise $120 for the K9 unit. She said she did it because of her love for animals and desire to help.