MERIDEN, Conn. — A new class of the most advanced patrol canine teams the state has to offer graduated on Thursday, according to a release from Connecticut State Police.
The graduation of the state police’s 246th Patrol K9 Class earlier this week is a milestone in enhancing public safety in Connecticut, as nine teams are now ready to protect and serve communities throughout the state with unwavering skill and dedication, the release said.
Each team consists of a state trooper or local police officer and a K9. To complete the class, members had to undergo a challenging and time consuming 16-week program as they pursued excellence, according to the release.
Each of the nine graduating K9 teams embarked on and finished a difficult curriculum that tested participants on a variety of skills such as locating missing family members, finding importance evidence during investigations, providing support to law enforcement offers and facilitating community engagement, the release said.
The graduating teams and their departments/barracks are listed below:
-Orange Police Department: Officer Ashley Cavanaugh and K9 Beau
-Naugatuck Police Department: Officer Michael Gigliotti and K9 Hardy
-East Hampton Police Department: Officer Steven Wawruck and K9 Heros
-Greenwich Police Department: Officer Jeff Franco and K9 Arrow
-CT State Police K9 Unit: TFC Gregory Fascendini and K9 Valor
-CSP Troop D: Trooper Abigail O’Connor and K9 Falco
-CSP Troop E: Trooper Xavier Crawford and K9 Vader
-CSP Troop G: Trooper Anthony Jacabacci and K9 Gatti
-CSP Troop K: Trooper Noah Blanchette and K9 Ghost
The state police offered the following congratulatory message to the graduates in the release.
“As we welcome these exception canine teams into active service, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to the trainers, handlers and all those involved in their support and training,” CSP said, in the release.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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