Police Dog Sworn Into Office; Canine Patrol Work To Begin

By Andrew Gorosko

With about 25 people in attendance, Town Clerk Cynthia Simon on Wednesday morning “swore into office” the newest member of the town’s law enforcement team, whom observers believe will soon demonstrate his nose for police work.

The 44th member of the police department has four legs, an exceptional sense of smell, and especially keen hearing.

Baro (pronounced barrow) is an 85-pound male German shepherd, who will be handled by Patrol Officer Andrew “Andy” Stinson during the evening police patrol shift.

Police acquired Baro last October, after the dog received his initial training in German-language commands in the Czech Republic. For the past two months, Baro has received police dog training in Southington, Ansonia, Bristol, and Monroe, said Officer Stinson.

The dog lives with Officer Stinson. The handsome black, white, and tan Baro has pale tan rings around his eyes. Baro will be 2 years old in May.

Baro has received command training in the “bark-and-hold” technique, in which the animal will stop and repeatedly loudly bark at the assailant whom it has pursued and stopped, instead of simply attacking the person, Officer Stinson said. However, if the pursued person attacks the dog, the dog will then attack the person.

Police have ordered a body armor vest for the dog, which it will wear, when needed.

During a demonstration of Baro’s abilities, the dog sniffed out a packet of marijuana that had been hidden by police. Baro also demonstrated how he would contain and potentially attack an assailant, with police Patrol Officer Michael McGowan posing as the assailant.

Before acquiring Baro, the police department had not had a police dog for more than 20 years.

Besides regular duty on the police evening shift, the Stinson/Baro team will be on call in the event that a police dog’s services are needed on the day shift or the overnight shift.

A police patrol car is specially outfitted for police dog use. The rear seat has been removed to provide the dog with ample room while in transit. The car is equipped with a remotely controlled rear door, which will allow Officer Stinson to open the door from a distance to let the dog out of the vehicle in the event that the dog is needed quickly.

The police car carrying the dog has temperature monitors and ventilation equipment installed to keep conditions comfortable for the canine.

People who venture too close to the car while the dog is within will soon learn that Baro is well trained in loud, aggressive barking.

The dog’s prime tasks will involve using his keen sense of smell for drug searches, to help find missing persons, and to help locate fleeing suspects.

Baro will attend the police department’s public presentations. Officer Stinson is a member of the police department’s four-member crime prevention unit.

When the dog performs his tasks well, he is rewarded by being allowed to play with a dog toy. Food is not used as a reward to prevent the dog from becoming fat.

Police purchased the dog with drug asset forfeiture funds. Drug dealers’ assets that are seized by police in arrests provide a source of funds for police purchases related to drug law enforcement.