Canine officer, dog graduate state police narcotics training

OLD SAYBROOK — Ten Connecticut State Police canine teams made up the 227th Narcotics K-9 Class, which graduated May 13 during a ceremony at the Connecticut State Police K-9 Unit.

They include Officer Eric Williams and canine officer Skye, who will be joining the Old Saybrook Police Department.

These police dogs were specially trained to detect and alert their handlers to the presence of narcotics, and will begin assisting police in combating the narcotic and opiate crisis in Connecticut communities, according to a news release.

The graduating narcotic detection canine teams are capable of searching for and locating illicit narcotics concealed upon or within buildings, passenger and commercial motor vehicles, mass transit vehicles, luggage, parcels, lockers, open areas and persons, the press release said.

These specialized narcotics canine teams spent six weeks being trained by Connecticut State Police canine instructors.