Westport is justly proud of its Police Department.
From the chief and his assistants through the detectives and officers, every day they “protect and serve.” They do it professionally, efficiently, and with tons of people skills.
Four officers have animal skills too. And 4 of the most important members of the WPD are Atlas, Brutte, Onyx and Ambo: the K-9 unit.
The division has a long history in Westport. Police Chief Foti Koskinas is a former handler (many Westporters remember his dog, Lola). His predecessor as chief, Dale Call, was a K-9 handler too.
From left: Officer Jimmy Loomer, Corporals Dave Scinto and Kevin Smith, with their police dogs.
Westport’s K-9 canines lead anything but a dog’s life. The German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois and Malinois/Dutch Shepherd mix do detection work. That’s everything from tracking a suspect who fled from a stolen vehicle or bank robbery, to finding a lost elderly person with dementia or missing child.
The yellow Labrador Retriever is trained to find explosives and firearms-related evidence.
There is plenty of work to keep them on their toes paws. Westport’s corps is available to other towns too — those with no K-9, or whose dogs are unavailable. Our department has assisted from Greenwich to Milford and Shelton.
The dogs join the department when they are 1 year to 18 months old. After a 12-week training course, they are assigned to a handler. Ideally, they stay with them — currently, Officer Jimmy Loomer, Corporal Kevin Smith and Corporal David Scinto — for the dogs’ entire 7 to 10 years of service.
“Stay” is important. They live with the handler, becoming part of the family.
Westport’s K-9 unit. Clockwise from upper left: Onyx, Brutte, Atlas and Ambo.
Some of the funds for K-9 training, care and operation come from the Police Department’s annual budget.
But the WPD must fundraise for other expenses.
Which is why last week, they rolled out a GoFundMe page. The goal is $58,000.
Two of the department’s 3 K-9 vehicles are due for replacement this year. The budget covers them.
However, it costs $20,000 to outfit one K-9 police car with lights, radios, a dog kennel system and heat monitor. That’s $40,000.
Each special K-9 vehicle is equipped with special lights, radios, a dog kennel and heat monitoring system.
In addition, Cpl. Scinto’s Atlas — who works not only as a Westport K-9 but also with the regional Auto Theft Task Force — is nearing retirement. His replacement will cost $12,000; the training program is another $6,000, for a total of $18,000.
This is the K-9 unit’s first fundraiser in 4 years. The previous one was for Brutte, who replaced Koda, along with veterinary care and food.
Click here for the GoFundMe project. Tax-deductible donations can be made directly there, or by check to “Westport Police K-9 Unit,” 50 Jesup Road, Westport, CT 06880.
Questions? Call Lieutenant Eric Woods: 203-341-6000.
The K9 team are wonderful officers and their dogs. Truly an asset to the Town.
To give people an opportunity to see their work they bring in other teams as well and do a demonstration at the Westport Dog Festival. Always a crowd pleaser. This year the festival will be Sunday May 19.
This isn’t a complaint, it’s a genuine question.
Why does the budget allow for new cars, but not for outfitting them? And why doesn’t the budget allow for training replacement personnel? It isn’t like it’s a lot of money, comparatively speaking, and it isn’t a yearly line item.
Just curious why the town doesn’t pay for it.
(Happy to donate, though!)
So let me get this straight, the taxpayers will fund 100 million plus for a brand new Long Lots, but need a GoFundMe to supplement the police budget? And moreover, offer the services to other towns. Hopefully money is exchanged for those services. It’s actually embarrassing that Westport needs a GoFundMe to supplement the police budget!
The town likes to keep it all very fine lined. I couldn’t agree with you more, can we please pay for the k 9 unit, without question.
Why do we do this ? Then spend 100m on a school.
The k 9 team and their amazing officers should have a budget.
Matt, I just saw your comment and can’t believe no one responded to it. No responses says a lot.
If they are paying 12,000$ for just the dog they’re being taken. I own two and they were nowhere near that amount.
I moved with my family from Westport to Florida in High School. Retired as an Asst. Chief of Police for a small agency. We always had K-9 units with properly trained teams and all the necessary vehicles and equipment. This is an essential function of the WPD and should be totally funded in the budget. They shouldn’t have to beg for money. Westporters enjoy excellent police services and can well afford to pay for them.