UConn PD Team Among New Canine Narcotics Units

STORRS, CT — A team from the University of Connecticut Police Department is one of 10 police canine units that made up the 227th Narcotics Canine Class.

The police dog teams graduated on May 13.

The dogs were specially trained to detect and alert their handlers to the presence of narcotics and will begin assisting police in "combating the narcotic and opiate crisis in Connecticut communities," law enforcement officials said.

The graduating narcotic detection teams capable of searching for and locating "illicit narcotics concealed upon or within buildings, passenger and commercial motor vehicles, mass transit vehicles, luggage, parcels, lockers, open areas, and persons," officials said.

The specialized narcotics canine teams spent six weeks being trained by CSP instructors.

Among the graduates are Officer Gary Bourgoin and police dog Gigi from UConn police.