North American K9 Services is pleased to announce that the Connecticut Department of Corrections has selected North American K9 Services to provide them with another police canine.  Pictured is Officer Dexter and his newest police canine.  Officer Dexter and his new canine will be attending the CT State Police K9 Training Class. 

Meet the department's newest officer: Bosco

AUBURN — Call it canine kismet. "He was the first dog I saw," Androscoggin County Deputy Sheriff Jon Guay said. Bosco, a 1-year-old German shepherd,  seemed to be waiting at the kennel for him. "He had the right temperament and disposition. It was that quick."

If all goes right, the man-and-dog team will last years. Since October, when Sgt. Brian Smith retired with his dog, Yuono, the department has been without a K-9 unit. "I wanted this," Guay said Thursday as the big, brown dog tugged on a long leash. He waited nearly a year for the assignment.  The holdup was money, until a justice assistance grant arrived at the department. It funded the dog's $5,000 cost and part of his $1,100 training. There will be lots of it for both partners.

Next week, the dog and officer will enter the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro for a three-month course. Advanced training will follow. By this summer, the duo will be certified and on the street, Sheriff Guy Desjardins said.  It should strengthen the department in many ways, giving it resources to find a lost child in the woods or drugs hidden in a car.

Sgt. James Jacques, who served with a dog years ago, said the team has a practical role in investigations. It also serves an important community role in schools and elsewhere. People gravitate to the dog in a way that sheds some of the fear of police, Jacques said.

For the department, Bosco is a commitment of money and resources. For Guay, it's a more personal commitment. When their shift is over, they go home together. Guay had lots of talks with his wife, Beth, about adding to their family. Last Friday night, just hours after the department purchased Bosco at North American K-9 Services in East Hampton, Conn., the pair went home. For Guay, the biggest payoff will come once they go to work as a patrol team. "You've got your best friend in the back seat," he said.

dhartill@sunjournal.com

Note from NAK9 

North American K9 Services being a Law Enforcement Operated business occasionally gives back to Law Enforcement by either subsidizing the cost of a canine or donating a canine.  In this case, the cost of the canine was subsidized so that the department could purchase a high quality canine with the funds provided to them from a grant.   

North American K9 Services is pleased to announce that the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Department has selected North American K9 Services for their newest police canine.  Pictured left to right is Sergeant Smith, K9 Bosco and Deputy Guay.  Sergeant Smith, an experienced police canine handler assisted in testing and evaluating canines and selected K9 Bosco for Deputy Guay.  Deputy Guay and K9 Bosco will be attending the Maine State Police K9 Training Class in several weeks.  We would like to wish Deputy Guay success in his canine career.

North American K9 Services is pleased to announce that the Southold Town, NY Police Department selected North American K9 Services for their newest police canine.  Pictured is Officer Mele with his newest canine partner.  Officer Mele is an experienced police canine handler and will be attending the upcoming Suffolk County Police Canine Training Class taking place within the next few weeks.  We would like to wish Officer Mele continued success in his canine career.

North American K9 Services is pleased to announce that the Connecticut Department of Corrections has selected North American K9 Services to provide them with their third police canine.  Pictured from left to right are; Officer Rodrigues and Lieutenant Chandler.  All three canines and their handlers will be attending the upcoming CT State Police K9 Training Class slated to begin in mid February.

North American K9 Services is pleased to announce that the Suffolk County (NY) Police Department has selected North American K9 Services to provide them with their newest police canine.  Pictured is Suffolk County Police K9 Trainer Officer Ralph Fuellbier and their newest canine.    

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the NYPD ESU K9 Unit has selected us to provide them with another police canine.  Pictured from right to left are:  Officer Gitlin, Officer Nunez, Officer Elders & Officer Saunier, NYPD K9 Trainers.  The selected canine and his new handler will be undergoing patrol and search and rescue training in the near future. 

North American K9 Services is pleased to announce that the Connecticut Department of Corrections has selected North American K9 Services to provide them with two of their newest police canines.  Pictured from left to right are; Officer Melendez, Officer Rodriguez and Officer Ducharme.  Both canines and handlers will be attending the upcoming CT State Police K9 Training Class slated to begin in early February. 

North American K9 Services is pleased to announce that the Westampton Township, NJ Police Department has selected North American K9 Services to provide them with their newest police canine.  Pictured is Officer Shawn Welthy and his new canine partner, K9 Robi.  Officer Welthy and K9 Robi will be attending the Philadelphia Police K9 Training Class slated to begin early February. 

North American K9 Services is pleased to announce that the Philadelphia, PA Police Department has selected NAK9 to provide them with a green police canine.  Pictured is Officer Matt Mocharnuk and his new canine partner.  Officer Mocharnuk is a second time handler.  We would like to wish Officer Mocharnuk and his new K9 partner success in their training and in their canine careers. 

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the New Jersey State Police has selected North American K9 Services to provide them with two of their newest police canines.  Pictured is NJSP Trooper Fisher with K9 Kaso.  Both will be attending the NJSP K9 Training Class this fall. 

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the New Jersey State Police has selected North American K9 Services to provide them with two of their newest police canines.  Pictured is NJSP Trooper Botti with his newest partner.  Both will be attending the NJSP K9 Training Class this fall. 

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the Suffolk County (NY) Police Department has selected NAK9 to provide them with 4 green police canines.  Pictured is K9 Karo, one of the four canines selected.  All four canines will be trained in house by the Suffolk County Police K9 Unit. 

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the NYPD ESU K9 Unit has selected NAK9 for another green police canine.  NYPD selected K9 Bart.  K9 Bart will be trained as a police patrol canine with the additional responsiblity of search and rescue.  Pictured above is K9 Bart with NYPD K9 Unit trainers Officer Nunez and Officer Saunier. 

North American K9 Services is pleased to announce that the Massachusetts State Police has selected NAK9 to provide them with their newest police canine.  Pictured is Trooper John Chiaretta with his newest partner, K9 Axel.  Trooper Chiaretta is an experienced handler and K9 Axel will be his third partner.  Both will be attending the upcoming Massachusetts State Police K9 Training Class.  We would like to wish Trooper Chiaretta and K9 Axel success in their training and in their canine careers. 

North American K9 Services is pleased to announce that the MTA Police has selected North American K9 to provide them with their newest police canine.  Pictured is MTA Police K9 Trainer Officer Nelson Hernandez and K9 Dino.  Officer Hernandez and MTA Police K9 Trainer Sergeant Bill Finucane selected K9 Dino after an extensive testing and evaluation process.  K9 Dino will be paired with a handler in the near future and attending the K9 Class instructed by Sergeant Finucane and Officer Hernandez.

North American K9 Services is pleased to announce that the MTA Police has selected NAK9 to provide them with their newest police canine.  Pictured is MTA Police K9 Trainer Officer Nelson Hernandez and K9 Pako.  Officer Hernandez and MTA Police K9 Trainer Sergeant Bill Finucane selected K9 Pako after an extensive testing and evaluation process.  K9 Pako will be paired with a handler in the near future and attending the K9 Class instructed by Sergeant Finucane and Officer Hernandez.

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the Hanover Township, PA Police Department has selected NAK9 to provide them their newest green police canine.  Pictured is K9 Ado with Patrol Officer Mark Stefanowicz of the Hanover Township Police Department.  Officer Stefanowicz is a second time police canine handler and will be attending the North East Police K9 Academy Class this fall.

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the North East Police K9 Academy located in Wilkes-Barre, PA has selected NAK9 to provide them their newest green police canine.  Pictured is K9 Bell with Police K9 Trainer Paul Price. 

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the Lower Merion Township Police Department located in Ardmore, PA has selected NAK9 to provide them with two of their newest green police canines.  Pictured is K9 Hunter with Officer John String.  Officer String is a first time police canine handler and will be attending the Philadelphia Police K9 Class this fall.

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the Lower Merion Township Police Department located in Ardmore, PA has selected NAK9 to provide them with two of their newest green police canines.  Pictured is K9 Murphy with Officer Jerry Bellow.  Officer Bellow is a first time police canine handler and will be attending the Philadelphia Police K9 Class this fall.

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the NYPD ESU K9 Unit has selected NAK9 for another green police canine.  Were extremely proud that NYPD continues to select NAK9 for high quality police canines.  NYPD selected K9 Tano.  K9 Tano will be trained as a police patrol canine with the additional responsiblity of search and rescue.  Pictured above is K9 Tano with NYPD K9 Unit trainers Officer Gitlin. 

North American K9 Services is pleased to announce that the Waterbury, CT Police Department selected a Green Police Canine for the upcoming Connecticut State Police K9 Training Class.  The Waterbury Police Department selected K9 Cert.

Three area police departments are getting fresh four-legged officers: Chase, Mac and Knox.

The dogs graduated last month from the Orange County Sheriff's K-9 Training Facility in Montgomery.

"We teach them some of the skills in the field," said Sgt. Dave Campbell, a dog trainer. One of the most important skills is tracking, where the dog can follow where a person has walked or run.

"We teach them how to sniff underneath a door and bark to indicate that someone is hiding behind it. Another thing we do is article search and evidence," Campbell said. "That is where the dog sniffs out a human scent on an article that has been left behind. For example, my dog sniffed out a rifle hidden under a bunch of leaves."

Officers worked with their dogs for 16 weeks, for 40 hours a week. Chase is assigned to Officer Don Decker in the Village of Liberty; Mac to Officer William Conklin in Port Jervis and Knox to Officer Jason Ross in the Town of New Windsor.

"There are days you have to have a lot of patience with your partner," Decker said. "Overall, it is the best thing I have ever done since I became a police officer."

Decker said he totally trusts his partner. Chase lives in Decker's home. "He is right there for me and I am there for him when he needs something."

In September, the dogs will be cross-trained for six weeks in either narcotics or explosives detection.

vwhitman@th-record.com

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090719/NEWS/907190324/-1/SITEMAP

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has selected North American K9 Services for their newest police canine.  Sergeant Keith Isles, an experienced K9 Handler / K9 Trainer with the NYS DEC tested and evaluated numerous green canines from NAK9 and selected K9 Argo to be his fourth police canine partner.  The NYS DEC has an interstingly unique K9 Program in which the police canines not only protect the handler and the public but also assist in making cases by locating shell casings related to hunter shootings as well as other types of incidents involving firearms.  Sergeant Isles will be training K9 Argo himself over the next few months.  We wish Sergeant Isles and K9 Argo success in their upcoming training program and in their K9 careers. 

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the NYPD ESU K9 Unit has selected NAK9 for another green police canine.  NYPD selected K9 Valdo.  K9 Valdo will be trained as a police patrol canine with the additional responsiblity of search and rescue.  Pictured above is K9 Valdo with NYPD K9 Unit trainers Officer Nunez and Officer Gitlin. 

North American K9 Services is pleased to announce that the Springfield, MA Police Department selected North American K9 Services to provide them with their newest police canine.  Officer George Flanagan of the Springfield Police Department with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police selected K9 Riko after a testing and evaluation process conducted by Sgt. Steve Smith of the Massachusetts State Police.  Officer Flanagan is a third time K9 Handler and will be attending the upcoming Massachusetts State Police K9 Training Class.  We would like to wish Officer Flanagan and K9 Riko the best of success in the upcoming class and in their K9 career.   

North American K9 Services is pleased to announce that the Riverhead, NY Town Police Department with the assistance of the Suffolk County Police Department has selected NAK9 to provide them with a green police canine.  Pictured is Officer John Dossinski and his new canine partner, K9 Vaki.  Officer Dossinski, an experienced K9 handler, will be attending the K9 Class with the Suffolk County Police K9 Training Unit in the near future.  We would like to wish Officer Dossinski and K9 Vaki success in their training and in their canine careers. 

North American K9 Services is pleased to announce that the Lancaster County (PA) Sheriff's Office with the assistance of Paul Price and the North East Police K9 Academy has selected NAK9 to provide them with a green police canine.  Pictured is Corporal David Bolton and his new canine partner, K9 Fox.  Corporal Bolton, an experienced K9 handler, will be attending North East Police K9 Academy in the near future.  We would like to wish Corporal Bolton and K9 Fox success in their training and in their canine careers. 

North American K9 Services is pleased to announce that the Philadelphia, PA Police Department has selected NAK9 to provide them with a green police canine.  Pictured is Officer Anthony Sampson and his new canine partner, K9 Arko.  Officer Sampson, an experienced Police K9 veteran, tested and evaluated numerous green police canines with the assistance of the Philadelphia Police K9 Unit trainers and selected K9 Arko.  We would like to wish Officer Sampson and K9 Arko success in their training and in their canine careers. 

The Hillsboro, NH Police Department with the assistance of canine trainers from the Manchester, NH Police Department selected North American K9 Services to provide them with their first canine.  Officer Nick Hodgen selected K9 Fanto as his K9 Partner.  Officer Hodgen, pictured at left, will be attending the Manchester, NH Police K9 Training Class.  Pictured next to Officer Hodgen is Officer Goodnow, K9 Trainer with the Manchester, NH Police Department.  We would like to wish Officer Hodgen and K9 Fanto success in the class and in their canine career.

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the Ocean County Sheriff's Office in Toms River, NJ has selected NAK9 for the purchase of two more police canines.  Pictured are Deputy Wielichoski and K9 Titan and Deputy McIntyre with K9 Skippy.  Pictured to the right of Deputy McIntyre is Deputy Kolhout who is partnered with K9 Murphy, acquired from NAK9 in November of 2008.  We wish both deputies success in their upcoming canine class and in their canine careers.   

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the New Windsor, NY Police Department has selected NAK9 to provide them with a green police canine.  The New Windsor Police Department selected K9 Knox.  Officer Jason Ross will be K9 Knox' handler.  Both will be attending the upcoming K9 Class with the Orange County Sheriff's Office.  We wish Officer Ross and K9 Knox the best of success in the class and in their K9 careers. 

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the Manchester, NH Police Department has purchased their third green police canine from NAK9 for their upcoming K9 Training Class.  The Manchester Police Department chose K9 Monty, a great dual purpose police prospect with tremendous potential.  K9 Monty will be handled by Officer Kelly McKenney of the Manchester Police Department.  We wish Officer McKenney and K9 Monty success in the upcoming class and in their K9 careers. 

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the Raynham, MA Police Department has selected NAK9 for their newest police canine.  Sergeant Donovan of the Raynham, MA Police Department, a second time handler, selected K9 David to be his newest partner.  Sergeant Donovan and K9 David will be attending the Plymouth County, MA Sheriff's Department K9 Class.  We would like to wish Sergeant Donovan and K9 David success in their upcoming K9 class and in their K9 careers. 

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the Manchester, NH Police Department chose NAK9 to provide them with their second green police canine for their upcoming K9 Training Class.  The Manchester Police Department chose K9 Max, a great dual purpose police prospect with tremendous potential.  K9 Max will be handled by Officer Ouellette of the Manchester Police Department.  We wish Officer Ouellette and K9 Max success in the upcoming class and in their K9 careers.   

PORT JERVIS — It's not often that you attend a news conference where the subject of the event attempts to eat the microphone.

But that's exactly what the 13-month-old, 85-pound, four-legged addition to the Port Jervis Police Department named Mac tried to do on Tuesday in the Common Council Chambers. The microphone belonged to Councilman-at-Large Dick Roberts, who instantly forgave the frisky German shepherd.

It took about two years of planning and lots of support from local businesses and individuals, but, during a time when some police departments are cutting back because of budget constraints, the Port Jervis department was able to add a police dog.

The department secured more than $20,000 in grants, said police Chief William Worden. The K-9 program also received about $11,000, in cash, materials and in-kind services from businesses and individuals in the community, as well as support from the Police Benovolent Assocation and the City Council.

It's going to take 16 weeks of training, which is provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Office, before Mac officially begins to perform his duties, says Officer William Conklin, the dog's handler. "In June you will see a different dog," Conklin said.

After that, there's another six weeks of training for narcotics detection and periodic refresher courses. When Mac's not working, he is part of Conklin's family, joining his two dogs as a family pet.

Worden says the department has been using dogs for police work for a long time but had to borrow the canines from the sheriff's office.

Worden touts the dog's super hearing — 25 times better than a human's — and superior sense of smell as assets for police work. Plus, a dog is a great tool for public relations, adds Mayor Gary Lopriore.

Lopriore, a former Port Jervis police chief, says the name Mac is very significant. Mac was named after John MacKechnie, a Port Jervis patrolman who was killed in the line of duty in 1949.

ssacco@th-record.com

The Chicopee Police Department selected North American K9 Services for their newest K9.  Officer Joe Brunelle, an experienced K9 handler, selected K9 Pako to be his next K9 Partner.  We wish Officer Brunelle and K9 Pako success in their K9 career. 

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the Manchester, NH Police Department chose NAK9 to provide them with their canine for their upcoming K9 Training Class.  The Manchester Police Department chose K9 Cello, a great dual purpose police prospect with tremendous potential. 

The Port Jervis, NY Police Department Chose North American K9 Services To Provide Their First Canine.  Officer Bill Conklin selected K9 Dan as his K9 Partner.  We wish Officer Conklin success in his endeavor as Port Jervis' first ever K9 Unit.  Were sure Officer Conklin and K9 Dan will be a tremendous asset to the Port Jervis Police Department. 

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the Liberty, NY Police Department has selected NAK9 to provide them with a green police canine.  Pictured left to right is Officer Decker, K9 Rony and Chief of Police Mir.  Chief Mir brought back the K9 Unit after a previous administration allowed the K9 Unit to disband.  We wish Officer Decker and K9 Rony success in their K9 career. 

The Ludlow Police Department selected North American K9 Services for their newest K9.  Officer Mike Whitney, a second time handler, selected K9 Rocky to be his K9 Partner.  We wish Officer Whitney and K9 Rocky success in their K9 career. 

North American K9 Services is proud to announce that the NYPD Emergency Services K9 Team chose NAK9 to provide them with their newest member of their K9 Unit.  Pictured above are NYPD K9 Unit trainers Officer Saunier, Officer Nunez, and Officer Gitlin (left to right)  We wish the handler and canine success in the upcoming class and in their careers. 

Congratulations to the members of the Connecticut State Police 136th K9 Training Troop that graduated on 12/19/08 after 16 weeks of intense training.  NAK9 supplied 6 of the canines that graduated from this class.  The best of success to the officers that graduated from this class in their canine careers. 

NAK9 is proud to announce that the Ocean County Sheriff's Department located in Toms River, NJ chose NAK9 to provide them with their canine for their upcoming K9 Training Class.  The Ocean County Sheriff's Department chose K9 Gorbi, a great police k9 prospect with high drive and a great work ethic.  We wish K9 Gorbi and his handler success in the class and their career. 

The article below was written by Sloan Brewster in the Middletown Press

MIDDLETOWN - It took the tireless efforts of a K-9 to sniff out a fugitive running from police last week.

Officer Doug Clark is quick to give accolades to Patrol Officer Tim Reilly and Sgt. Heather Desmond who helped run down Tormu Emanuel Prall when the fugitive - who had been featured on "Americas Most Wanted" - was seen breaking into cars behind Destina Theatre Monday, Sept. 8.  Prall was wanted by police in Trenton, N.J. in the murder of his brother, John Prall, in September 2007.  "Patrol that evening did a great job," Clark said, repeating the praise several times.  But it wasn't actually the patrol division who found the slippery fugitive who raced into through the briars into the woods near the Mattabassett River, ultimately taking cover in a parking lot on River Road, where he completely disappeared from police sight.  "He basically had to hide, and this guy hid like a pro," Clark said.  That was when Clark's dog, K-9 Officer Niko, took over. Taking advantage of his powerful sense of smell, the dog followed the trail of the convict until coming upon some tractor trailers. Beneath one of the trucks the suspect lay hidden in a spot where police could not see him. Had it not been for the dog, Clark said police would not have found the man.  "He had wedged himself up under the axles where you couldn't have seen him," Clark said.  Based on the dog's reactions the officer knew the suspect had to be nearby. As he described it, "The dog was very hot ... excited. Ears are literally perked forward, tail's wagging. Everyone should know their own dog."  At that point Clark started exhorting the man to show himself.

"We all kept giving him commands about the dog," Clark said. "I kept warning him that if he didn't come out I was going to send the dog in to get him. I kept making the announcement ... You better surrender or I'm going to send the dog in and he's going to bite you."  Clark also pointed out he had not in fact given the dog the "green light" to bite.  That was not the end to Prall's refusal to cooperate. The next thing he did, Clark said, was to give a false identity and refuse to submit to fingerprinting and photographing.  "Patrol did a phenomenal job," Clark said. "We didn't know this was America's Most Wanted ... and sure enough this guy. Patrol that evening did a great job."  According to reports from Trenton police, at 5:59 a.m. on Sept. 25, 2007, the Trenton Fire Department responded to a house fire at 206 Wayne Ave., where two victims had been identified.  John Prall, 40, died later that same day of injuries sustained in the fire. His girlfriend, Kimberly Meadow, 40, survived but suffers scars from the serious injuries she endured.  After further investigation the fire was determined to be arson and the death considered a homicide.   According to Trenton authorities, after the fire, Tormu Prall disappeared and numerous reports were made of his appearances in Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Connecticut where he went under several aliases such as Michael Edwards, Jacob Briars and Michael Harvey.  According to an article in the Trenton Times, Prall was last seen in May in Boston, where he was picked up by police for public drunkenness but released because a computer glitch prevented police from learning he was wanted in New Jersey. Police in Cambridge, Mass., also are seeking Prall on suspicion of arson and drug dealing there, the article reads.  Prall is now awaiting extradition to Trenton where he faces charges of homicide, attempted homicide and arson.

NAK9 is proud to announce that the South Windsor Police Department chose NAK9 to provide them with their canine for the upcoming CT State Police K9 Training Class.  The South Windsor Police Department chose K9 Bobby, a great dual purpose police prospect whom is extremely social.  A great fit for the South Windsor PD.  We wish Bobby and his handler success in the class and their career. 

The Berlin Police Department in Berlin, CT purchased K9 Titan (formerly known as K9 Rex).  K9 Titan will be partnered with Officer Aimee Krzykoski and will attend the Fall Patrol Class with the Connecticut State Police Canine Training Unit.  NAK9 wishes Officer Krzykoski and K9 Titan success in their future endeavors.

At left Officer Krzykoski is pictured with K9 Titan.