Police say goodbye to retiring K-9, hello to new one
NEW MILFORD — The police department recently said goodbye to retiring K-9 Drake and welcomed a new police dog named Ella to the force.
K-9 Drake, a 10-year-old Czech Republic-born German Shepherd and certified dual-purpose patrol and narcotics police canine, retired from active duty recently following years working alongside Officer Mark Williams.
“K-9 Drake served the town of New Milford with distinction for over nine years and was a valuable member of our team,” Chief Spencer Cerruto said.
The New Milford Police Department held a ceremony last week to recognize the retiring police dog, who joined the force in 2012 and assisted with a number of narcotics investigations and tracks in New Milford, as well as surrounding towns.
Earlier in his career, K-9 Drake helped track an incapacitated teen who had been reported missing after school. He also helped locate a missing individual following a two-mile early morning track through a wooded area, according to police.
Toward the end of K-9 Drake’s career, K-9 Drake and Williams worked together to locate a man who reportedly wanted to harm himself. After K-9 Drake led police to the man, who was incapacitated in the area of Water’s Construction on Danbury Road, Williams and another officer were able to render him medical aid before medical personnel arrived.
K-9 Drake also served on a presidential security detail, assisting U.S. Secret Service during President Barack Obama’s visit to Connecticut following the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Not only did K-9 Drake excel at sniffing out narcotics and tracking, Cerruto said, but he was also “a favorite at various community events and local school where he and Officer Williams conducted demonstrations.”
With K-9 Drake spending retirement at home with the Williams family, his longtime handler has teamed up with a new partner: K9 Ella.
“I am excited to introduce Ella to the community and confident that she will provide excellent service to our community,” Cerruto said.
The 1-year-old bloodhound from Virginia officially joined the New Milford police force Saturday and is one of the few police bloodhounds in the state, he said.
Originally from Virginia, K-9 Ella trained with the Westchester County-based Tri-State Police Bloodhound Group and is certified for tracking.
“Of course, the bloodhound has a nose that is second to none, a natural drive to track and will not stop until they reach the end of their trail,” Cerruto said, noting that K-9 Ella will serve as a search-andrescue dog to track missing persons and suspects who flee on foot.
Cerruto said K-9 Ella also has a “friendly, approachable demeanor,” which will make for excellent public relations and will be helpful at community policing events.”