NORWICH – The Norwich City Police Department has welcomed its new drug detection K-9 unit which can now be seen patrolling the streets after the dog earned national certification in late October.
Norwich Police Officer and handler Brandon Clarke and his canine, Weeks, started routine duty for the department Oct. 22.
“There’s not doubt in my mind we’re already having an effect. Just having the dog out in public view creates a level of deterrence. People who are routinely involved with illegal drug activity are well aware of the dog’s crime fighting capabilities,” said Clarke.
Clarke and Weeks completed a six-week training course at the Progressive K-9 Academy in Walnutport, Pa. before being tested by the National Police Canine Association and officially certified.
Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino said he opted to have the canine unit certified with the national association to avoid a delay in its availability, explaining that New York’s certification testing wouldn’t have been available until later in the year.
The K-9 unit will operate on a special duty schedule, explained Clarke. “We’ve adopted a non-routine schedule to help maximize exposure and deterrence,” he said.
Apart from criminal enforcement, Clarke said the PD had received a number of calls from people requesting that he and Weeks perform public demonstrations or be present for certain events.
“The reaction from the community has been overwhelming. People were excited to hear the dog was coming and now that we’re here, everyone wants to meet him,” said Clarke.
The officer said he has already responded to a handful of the invitations.
“The community has welcomed Weeks with open arms. People just like having him around,” said Clarke.
The presence of the unit was made possible after the PD received a donation from a private citizen and from Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals earlier this summer.
P&G presented a check to Norwich City Mayor Joseph P. Maiurano and Angelino for $20,000 to aid the cost of the unit’s training and equipment. Former Norwich resident Judy Weeks purchased the purebred German Shepherd for the department, estimated to cost over $5,000
Judy purchased the dog and donated him to the PD in the hopes that her family’s contributions to local law enforcement would be remembered. The dog was named “Weeks” as tribute to her late husband and father-in-law.
“I wanted to honor the service of my late husband Ralph and my father-in-law, Norm for their contributions to the police department,” she said.
Officer Ralph Weeks served the Norwich Police for several years in the 1970s before transferring to the New York State Department of Conservation. Sgt. Norm Weeks served from 1941 to 1976 before retiring.
The 18-month-old K-9 was purchased from a Holland-based kennel that specializes in training and breeding German Shepherds for deployment in professional fields, such as law enforcement.
During their six-week training course, Clarke said he and the dog often worked eight or nine hours a day. There were three other K-9 units in the class and Weeks graduated with the group’s highest overall marks. In addition to the regular classes, the two also participated in a number of group training drills with eight to 12 other law enforcement K-9 units at a time.
The training focused on basic discipline, drug detection, tracking and self-defense maneuvers, said Clarke.
Clarke has been a Norwich Police officer for the last two and a half years. Before joining the department, he served the United States Marine Corps for nine years until being honorably discharged in December of 2005 as a Staff Sgt.
“Being Weeks’ handler is a huge responsibility and it’s absolutely a privilege as an officer,” said Clarke.