Officer eyes approval of crisis therapy K-9

Donated dog to be used to deescalate situations, help crime and trauma victims

MIDDLETOWN — Common Council members will be asked to give the goahead for the city to accept a donated crisis therapy dog, which will be used by police to help victims of trauma and crime, including children, to process their feelings.

The K-9 will come fully trained to the department as part of the Cheshirebased Hometown Foundation’s “innovative” program, which was discovered by Community Relations Officer Jay Bodell, who approached the organization with an idea. He spent five

months doing the legwork needed to apply, he said.

If the measure passes, Bodell will need to be accepted to a 14-day training residency program in New York which begins April 25. The dogs are obtained through the Puppies Behind Bars program, which trains prison inmates to raise service dogs for wounded veterans and first responders, as well as explosive-detection canines for law enforcement, according to the website.

The foundation will pay half the $3,000 cost to keep the Labrador for a year, including food, equipment and veterinary care. Bodell plans to get donations for the remainder from local businesses and individuals, he said.

It will live with Bodell and his family and will go to work with him daily.

Acting Police Chief Michael Timbro recommended the program, Mayor Ben Florsheim said. There will be no cost to taxpayers.

The dog also will be key to helping deescalate situations, Florsheim said. “It’s a new, cutting-edge approach to involving animals in police work.”

Since it will be at the police station, law enforcement officers experiencing the stress that comes with the occupation can interact with the dog, Bodell said. “The mere fact that you have it brings the blood pressure down,” something proven in studies.

“These are the things that are changing the way we do our jobs,” Bodell said.

Middletown is the first city to have such a canine, Bodell said. Groton and Naugatuck have one on their respective forces, as do Yale University and the University of Connecticut.

“I’m excited to bring that approach to policing. It fits nicely into some of our other efforts surrounding community policing,” Florsheim said.

The issue will be raised at Monday’s council meeting. To view the meeting agenda and access information, go to middletownct.gov.

Jay Bodell / Contributed photo Groton and Naugatuck have a crisis therapy dog on their respective forces, as do Yale University and the University of Connecticut. Above is Chase, the Groton Police Department’s crisis therapy dog.

Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Middletown Police Community Relations Officer Jay Bodell