Troop C Gets New Canine Training Course From Eagle Scout's Project

TOLLAND, CT — State police and an Eagle Scout candidate from Troop 15 in Tolland teamed up Friday to officially dedicate a canine obstacle course at the Troop C barracks.

The course has been coming to life over the past few weeks visually and, in essence over, the past 10 months as the Eagle badge community project of John Sleeman, a Scout with Troop 15. State troopers, scout leaders, family members, members of state government and well-wishers all gathered Friday to pay tribute to the project.

The project was conceived by Sleeman, troop leader John DiVenere (a former police officer himelf) and Troop C canine handler Kyle Kaelberer. Sleeman said he has always had an affection for animals and police work. His dad, Scott, is a a former UConn Police Department captain.

Some of the things Sleeman had to do for the project was develop a plan to build the obstacle course, collect donations, build the course, coordinate with state police as well as local utilities and business owners, and then direct fellow scouts to excavate and develop the site, lay out the course and stain the obstacles.

"The course will put police canines in a variety of scenarios that will help them react more effectively to better assist the community in life-saving and crime prevention," Sleeman said. "The previous course was in disrepair, with only one or two obstacles still standing, and barely at that."

Those at Troop C said the course had been reduced to a car door and a few pipes that weren't even mounted. Even the most frequent of visitors to the troop forgot the thing was even there.

Kaelberer said he and canine partner Drago were pretty much relegated to Middletown or local school fields if they needed to train.

"This is much better," he said. "John did a great job on the course." He added the obstacles do help with real-world maneuvers.

The course is front-and-center at Troop C and the parking lot lights even reach the course.

Obstacle courses are "integral tools" that help police dogs "carry out their duties more effectively and safely," state police canine supervisor Anthony Christy said.

Donations totaled about $3,500, which was on budget, Sleeman said.

Sleeman said the project also entailed "hours of intense labor, which was donated by me and my team."

Donors were listed on the new sign dedicating the course.