The Manchester by-the-Sea Police Department is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a funding grant that will allow the Department to start a Police K-9 Unit. The funding was provided by a private foundation who will cover all costs of the program.
This new program will be a joint venture between the Manchester by-the-Sea Police Department and the Cape Ann Regional Response Team, of which the department is a member. The Police K-9 will be able to track missing and lost individuals as well as track those who may have fled from the police. Additionally, the K-9 will be able to search for and locate property that may have been stolen and discarded during a crime. The Cape Ann Regional Response Team will use the K-9 for similar situations such as suspect locating and property tracking.
There have been a number of instances where the Department has needed the services of a K-9 and had to call for and wait for outside assistance from other police agencies such as the State Police.
Officer Joseph Archambault, who wrote the Grant and developed the program states, “Police canines have been used in the United States for over seventy years. When properly used, they are highly cost effective and act as a large deterrent to criminal activity. The modern day police canine has incredible senses that are far more acute than humans. Their vision is unquestionably better than humans when picking up movement. Their ears are able to listen for sounds over one hundred yards away. Their athleticism enables them to run in excess of 20 MPH.” According to Archambault, “the first and foremost function of the police canine is tracking. Their incredible ability to detect odors can lead an officer to a missing child or hidden suspect.”
From a Community Policing aspect, Chief Glenn McKiel sees this as a boost to the Department’s efforts in this area. “We will partner with the community to make the K-9 program a valuable service to our citizens,” said the Chief. “We have seen in many other communities throughout the State where the addition of a police K-9 proved to be a great value to the community by increasing safety, security, service, and outreach. We are pleased that we can provide this important service at no cost to the Town,” said McKiel.
“We anticipate the K-9 will come to us in March of this year and a training program will begin shortly thereafter,” said Archambault. The training will take place at the Boston Police Department K-9 Academy. Manchester by-the-Sea joins other local communities that have a successful K-9 program including Gloucester, Danvers, and Salem.
The Department plans on doing demonstrations and outreach at public events, for church and civic groups, as well as for local schools and others. These demonstrations will include the history and effectiveness of police canine use in the United States and examples of the canine using its nose to find hidden contraband. To increase community involvement, the Department plans on having a contest for local school students where they will have an opportunity to vote on a name for the K-9.
The group “Massachusetts Vest a Dog” foundation has set up an account for citizens who wish to donate the Manchester by-the-Sea program. Mass Vest a Dog is a private non profit group that provides bullet resistant vests and other related equipment to departments that employ a K-9 unit. “We thank the groups founder Kathy Hinds for setting up a fund for us and we hope we can acquire a vest for the K-9 in the next few months,” said Officer Archambault. More information on Mass Vest a Dog can be found at www.mavestadog.org. According to Archambault, “we have already had offers of assistance from local business and we thank them for wanting to partner with the Department in this exciting new initiative.”
In hopes of more thoroughly informing the community of this new program, the Department will be airing a taped presentation on Cape Ann Community Television during January to describe the program and they will hold an open community forum to answer any questions that citizens may have. This forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at the Manchester by-the-Sea Town Hall.
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