Council Moves Toward Passing K-9 Ordinance

The City Council has approved the groundwork for creating a K-9 patrol division ordinance, which would be a stronger measure to support the program within the New London Police Department.

Councilors voted unanimously on Monday to refer the ordinance to Law Director Jeffrey Londregan for review. The proposed ordinance would then be sent to the Public Safety Committee, which will likely meet before the Council’s next regular meeting on Aug. 5.

The proposed measure would require the NLPD to “maintain a recognized and distinguished K-9 patrol division within the department” with at least four dogs and handlers. It says the costs for the program should be borne within the NLPD budget.

In setting a minimum level for the number of dogs in the NLPD, the ordinance would be a stronger stance in support of the K-9 program than the Council’s previous action. On July 1, the Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the program. An attempt to pass the measure as an ordinance on that day failed 3-3.

That vote was taken in response to Mayor Daryl Finizio’s decision to retire patrol dog Buck and sell bloodhound Bessie to another department. These actions reduced the NLPD’s K-9 program to a single dog.

In response to the resolution, Finizio said Bessie’s sale would be halted and that she would be retained in the NLPD to be assigned to a new handler once one is trained. The city began boarding Bessie with the Connecticut State Police after her handler left the NLPD.

However, Finizio said he considered Buck’s retirement to be final. He said that the retirement was done under the union contract due to health concerns, as Buck suffers from arthritis.

The Council resolution specifically recommended retaining Buck in the NLPD. The New London Police Union says that Buck has been medically cleared for an additional two years of service and can continue working if he has the proper medication. The union has also said that fundraisers have collected enough money to pay for Buck’s medication during this time.

Finizio said in his response to the Council’s resolution that he supports a K-9 program but is opposed to the use of patrol dogs, arguing that the use of biting dogs opens the city to liability issues and hinders police-community relations. Speakers at a Public Safety Committee meeting said patrol dogs are valuable resources in apprehending suspects and protecting the lives of officers.

Councilor Anthony Nolan, a police officer, said he supports having patrol dogs in the NLPD. In response to another concern raised by Finizio, that incident reports show that most suspects bitten by NLPD K-9s have been minorities, Nolan said such incidents are the responsibility of the handler rather than the dog. Nolan said the administration could address any issues on this topic by meeting with the handlers.

During the public comment section, Michael Buscetto II offered to donate a patrol dog to the K-9 program.

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