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The full-day in-service training offered nine dogs and their handlers a chance to learn new drug-sniffing tactics in two vacant townhouses without disturbing students, who are on winter break.
While the university offered its space to benefit local police, Fairfield University Sgt. Rob Didato said it might help the university, should there a need for a canine unit there.
“It benefits us tremendously by there being a familiarity with the campus,” he said.
Frank Reda, owner of Superior K9 Services, hid a bag of heroin inside a kitchen drawer before Westport Officer James Baker and his yellow labrador retriever, 3-year-old Chase, went inside the unit. Chase pulled at his leash, eager to get to work.
Within seconds, he had located the drugs.
“Good dog! Good dog!” Baker said, distracting the excited dog with a chew toy.
It was a scene repeated dozens of times, as officers from Fairfield, Westport, Trumbull, Norwalk and Seymour put their dogs through their paces.
K9 units train at least twice a month, said Reda. Dogs and their handlers log 400 hours for each discipline, including narcotics, explosives and tracking. On Thursday, most of the dogs were practicing sniffing out heroin, cocaine, crack and marijuana.
Other officers worked outside, calling commands in German to their canine partners.
“The theory behind it is only the handler and the dog communicate,” said Erich Grasso, owner of Grasso Shepherds of Monroe, which provides and prepares K9 puppies for police departments from Stamford to Torrington.
“If there’s only one translator in the dog’s world, they’ll stick to that person like glue.”
Reda and Grasso agreed raising and handling a police dog takes a lot of patience.
“You have to tolerate a lot of things you wouldn’t tolerant from a pet,” Grasso said. “You’ve got to preserve the drive.”
Fairfield officers said they’re grateful for the opportunity. The town’s K9 unit is fully funded — from training to cages to kibble — by private donations, said Officer Kevin Wells, who trained with his partner, 21-month-old Jagger.
One lucky team will be the recipient of a $500 equipment grant, courtesy of Superior K9 Services. Fans and friends can vote for their favorite team at the business’ Facebook page.
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