OVERVIEW: 

Many police departments today have realized the value of police K-9 units and their ability to protect and assist officers. The Bristol Police Department has been fortunate enough to utilize this resource in protecting the community. Through numerous donations from city residents, the Bristol Police Department has acquired three police dogs. Two of our dogs work with the Patrol Division and cover all three shifts. Our third dog works in the Narcotics Division as a tool in drug detection. As canines are notorious for their sense of smell and the speed at which they can run, they are a valuable asset in locating criminals and evidence in any setting. Though our dogs are friendly, they have undergone rigorous training that has elevated them into highly efficient police officers. Should you meet one of our dogs and his handler on the street, please be sure to ask before approaching them.

For information about the beginning of the K9 program with the Bristol Police Department - Click Here

K-9 HANDLER SELECTION PROCESS:

In order to become a K-9 handler, our prospective officers must submit a résumé and be interviewed by a panel of supervisors. Performance evaluations, living arrangements, and a commitment to having a full-time K-9 partner are all components in selecting the proper handler. Due to the specialized training required for this position, officers are expected to remain in the program for several years and be available to respond during their off-duty hours. Once an officer has been selected for a K-9 position, they are teamed with a dog that has also gone through a complex selection process. Together they are enrolled in the Connecticut State Police K-9 training school. While at this school, our officers and their dogs are trained to track missing persons or criminal suspects, locate discarded evidence; apprehend fleeing suspects; search homes and buildings for suspects; to detect narcotics; and to protect their handlers.

Training does not end with graduation. It is an ongoing process, with the K-9 officers continually working together with their dogs to improve the program and the services that they offer. Our dogs work daily, assisting our patrol and narcotics divisions and occasionally aiding neighboring towns. Each dog and handler is provided with a modified patrol car in which the rear seat is replaced with a flat platform. Special metal window screens are installed to allow fresh air into the car at all times. In addition, all of our trained canines have been given bullet resistance vests to aid in their safety.

Presently, we have two German Shepherds working with the Patrol Division. Our Narcotics unit houses the Department’s third dog, Heather. She is a black Labrador whose sole purpose is to locate illegal narcotics. She is handled by a narcotics detective, Michael Brasche.  

Donations can be made to help support the K-9 program. Donations can help defray the cost of medical bills, equipment, food, and for the future purchuse of canines. Checks should be made out to the "Bristol Police K9 Program" and can be mailed to the Bristol Police Department - Attention: Lisa Rosa, 131 North Main St., Bristol CT 06010. 

Officer Morello & Pace		Officer Podlesney & Caesar
	Heather