The Westport Police Department not only honored those men and women who served our country on Memorial Day, but also the K-9 officers that served Westport.
Prior to the parade, members of the department dedicated a memorial at police headquarters to service dogs.
The memorial -- made possible by donations from Poster Animal Hospital, Westport Police Union Local 2080, and the Westport Police Benevolent Association -- "honors the dogs who have served and continue to serve the Town of Westport and surrounding communities," Police Chief Dale Call said.
Call, a former bloodhound handler, said most of the department's handlers would describe their time as handlers as "the most rewarding assignment they have held."
"Police service handlers and their dogs develop a special bond, as they are together 24 hours a day, both on-duty and off-duty," Call said.
Past and present handlers attended the dedication. Pictured from left to right are Chief Dale Call, Officer James Loomer and Koda, former bloodhound handler Sgt. Ryan Paulsson, former patrol dog handler Deputy Chief Foti Koskinas, former patrol dog handler Officer Marc Heinmiller, and former patrol dog handler Officer Richard Failla.
The department utilized service dogs for a short time in the mid-1980s, and have done so since the program was reinstated in 1991, according to Call.
The dogs' duties have included tracking suspects and lost persons, evidence recovery, building and area searches, apprehension of suspects, handler protection, and narcotics detection.
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