Top Dogs on Monroe’s Police Force Curb Crime

Two officers on Monroe's police force have moved to the head of the pack and are considered "top dogs." They have made hundreds of narcotics busts, apprehended evasive criminals, found lost persons, and maintained crowd control when needed. Like their fellow officers they are dedicated, train hard and like a good steak. The difference is they have four legs and their bite is worst than their bark. Officers Liberty and Gunner are German Shepherd dogs.

On June 26, 2006, a vehicle was pulled over in Monroe for an obstructed windshield. The driver had a suspended license. Officer Dennis Bradshaw and his partner K-9 Justice were summoned. Within minutes Justice indicated drugs were inside the car.

The trunk was opened revealing a backpack filled with seven plastic bags containing more than a pound of marijuana. There were also items to cultivate marijuana, rolling papers, pipes and a scale, plus $2,283 in the glove compartment. 

That was only one of K-9 Justice’s feats. He served Monroe from 2003-2010. During those years he racked up over 280 narcotic arrests, 41 successful tracks and 18 apprehensions.

On Aug. 10, 2010, Ansonia Police requested assistance at a break in at the Board of Education Building in Ansonia. Bradshaw and his second K-9 partner, Liberty, responded. Liberty was sent in and "cleared" the building making it safe for officers to continue their investigation.

On May 18, 2011, two 12-year-old boys from Cross Hill Road were reported missing in Wolfe Park. Bradshaw and Liberty were called in, as well as Monroe’s second K-9 team, Officer Jeff Loomis and his partner K-9 Gunner. Both teams participated in the search until the children were found unhurt the next day. 

"Throughout history canines have been one of the most valued tools, not only in law enforcement, but for the military," said Bradshaw, Monroe's veteran K-9 handler. Monroe's police dogs prove it everyday. 

Whether tracking Alzheimer's patients who have wandered off, lost children, fleeing burglars or drug dealers, the canines do it better. Their sense of smell is thought to be 1,000 times more sensitive than that of humans. 

Monroe families can watch those noses in action at at Wolfe Park at 6:30 Tuesday night. Monroe's K-9 teams, Bradshaw with Liberty and Loomis with Gunner, will be showing off their crime-busting techniques joined by seven or eight additional K-9 teams from the Region. 

The demonstrations are part of Monroe's participation in the nationwide National Night Out, a crime and drug prevention event.  The event runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a variety of fun family activities and local resources showcasing their services including Monroe's volunteer fire departments and Emergency Medical Service, as well as numerous crime fighting and safety organizations in the region. 

Monroe's canine history

Monroe's first police dogs were single purpose K-9s proficient in search, protection and "bark-and-hold." When K-9 Diablo, the department's third police dog, retired in 2002, his partner opted not to get another dog. Bradshaw, already on the force as a patrolman, proposed a dual purpose K-9 program and became the new K-9 Officer.

"I started my career with dogs back in the 1960's when my father taught me how to train and breed field English Setters," he said in a biography for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association (CPWDA.) "Throughout the 1970's, I trained field dogs and their respective owners."

He also opened his own kennel and bred, trained and ran his award winning setters in American field trials. In 1997 he changed careers and went into law enforcement.  

Bradshaw’s first K-9 was Justice. They patrolled Monroe together for seven years. Before Justice retired from active duty, Bradshaw purchased a second German Shepherd Dog, Liberty, and began her training. For two years both patrolled with Bradshaw. Then in 2010 Liberty began patrolling Monroe alone with her partner, while Justice, now 13-years old, the K-9 who set the bar for future K-9 success in Monroe, relaxes at home.

"We brought in a new breed of dog in 2002, a new generation of K-9s trained for dual purpose," said Bradshaw. Like most K-9s, Monroe's police dogs are trained in tracking, apprehension and protection. But, they are also trained to sniff out marijuana, heroine, meth, ecstasy and cocaine. 

In Monroe, two of three shifts are covered by K-9 patrol. 

"I’d like to see K-9s on all three shifts," said Bradshaw. In addition to their regular shifts, dogs and handlers are on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Equipment-wise, Monroe’s K-9s are well-taken care of. Officers wear heat sensors on their uniforms that sound an alarm should the temperature in their specially outfitted and air-conditioned squad cars rise above safe limits when the dogs are left in their vehicle.

The one item that is sorely needed is a bullet-proof vest for Gunner that can also protect him from knife wounds. K-9s are often the first target of fleeing or cornered criminals. The vests are specially made and fitted to the individual dog with a price tag of about $1,500. It's a small amount when compared to the tens of thousands of dollars Bradshaw and Loomis say they have saved the town by purchasing and training their own dogs after work, on their own time.

Bradshaw currently sits on the Board of CPWD representing the Western Region of Connecticut. Over the years, he has assisted K-9 trainer and breeder William Scribner, a sergeant with the New Milford Police Department, in training well over two dozen K-9 units, which serve police departments throughout the state. He has also trained a number of dual purpose K-9's and handlers for various Connecticut towns including Monroe’s Officer Loomis and Gunner.

"Becoming a K-9 officer is a big responsibility," said Bradshaw. "You're in it for a long time."

New dog on the block

K-9 Gunner has been on the Monroe force for only a month or two, but is performing every task asked of him, according to his handler, who is proud of his proficiency.

"He works really hard on duty," Loomis said, "but at home he's just a big lap dog. My family really loves him."

Officer Loomis joined the Monroe Police Department fresh out of college at the age of 22. A few years later he decided to purchase a German Shepherd Dog and train him for police work.

"I knew how tough it would be for the dog," he said. "I figured the worst that could happen … would be that I'd end up with a great pet."

Not every dog is suitable for the demands of police work. Each must display certain character traits, among which are a strong desire to work, courage, intelligence, trainability, a strong bond to the handler, perseverance and a protective instinct.

Loomis brought Gunner home when he was just an eight-week-old pup. He spent two years training him on his own time before he approached Police Chief John Salvatore about adding Gunner to the force.

Monroe's Police Commissioners unanimously voted to accept him, realizing the cost to outfit a cruiser for the new K-9 team would be minimal in comparison to the benefits the town would reap.

"I really appreciate all the help and support Officer Bradshaw has given me, and the other handlers who let me train with them. Chief Salvatore has been great," he said.

Officer Loomis, whose rank is patrolman, shied away from divulging Gunner's new rank. When informed that rumor had it Gunner outranked him, he laughed. "At home," he said grinning, "I'm still top dog."

Gunner who was listening to his partner's every word, said nothing, but smiled widely for the camera.

The Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. was established in 1991, “to assist, unite and promote police service dogs in the State of Connecticut” and to “enhance the training, education and overall working performance of police canine teams.” It established minimum certification standards for patrol and narcotic detection canine teams and “encourages and assists members with ongoing in-service training to maintain the police canine teams’ proficiency.” For further information visit www.cpwda.com.