New Essex County Comfort Dog Named After Late Deputy Sheriff

DANVERS, MA — The newest member of the Essex County Sheriff's Department has been named after a late member of the department who was a victim of the COVID-19 health crisis.

The department named K-9 Pasky after Anthony Pasquarello, who died of COVID-19 in December 2021.

"The passing of Deputy Pasquarello impacted this department greatly, especially our officers. He was a gentle being and always a friend to many," Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger said. "We thought it was just so fitting to name our Comfort K-9 in memory of Anthony."

Norine Pasquarello, Deputy Pasquarello's mother, was on hand for the dedication this week.

"I love that they named him Pasky. To me, it's like a part of Anthony is still there," she said. "My entire family thinks it's absolutely wonderful."

K-9 Pasky will be on shift at our three facilities with his partner, Officer Christian Guzman. K-9 Pasky's primary duty will be to provide correctional officers and other staff with a little puppy love to ease the stress of working in a correctional facility.

"Corrections is a demanding profession, requiring extreme dedication in one of the most challenging and stressful roles in law enforcement,” said Sheriff Coppinger. "Promoting officer wellness is a top priority for our department, and K-9 Pasky will serve an important role in caring for our men and women."

K-9 Pasky will be available to respond to local communities in times of need. The pair will also attend community events.

"K-9 Pasky’s purpose is to provide support and affection while positively improving the overall well-being of all those around him," Officer Guzman said. "He loves his job judging by his ever-present big, goofy smile, and the people here look forward to him making his rounds.

"It's amazing to see how a little love from a dog can brighten someone's whole day."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)