Brick Police Canine, Handler Are On Patrol

Brick, NJ -- The Brick Township Police Department has another K-9 member working the streets.

Patrol Officer John Turrin and his K-9 partner, Vader, graduated from the New Jersey State Police Academy in Hamilton last month.

Turrin and Vader have been qualified for detection of ammunition, explosives and bombs, Sgt. Neal Pedersen said.

The pair began their training in March, and Pedersen said the department's entire canine division, along with Police Chief James Riccio, attended the graduation. The 16-week school trains the handlers and dogs, working as a team, in criminal apprehension, crowd control, tracking, building searches, article searches, obedience and agility.

The entire cost for the training, vehicle and the purchase of Vader were covered by a grant from Homeland Security, Pedersen said.

The pair are assigned to the patrol division, he said.

In addition to Vader, the department has a German shepherd, Max, whose handler is Patrolman Keith Prendeville; K-9 Duke, a Dutch shepherd whose handler is Patrolman Paul Catalina; and K-9 Rigby, whose handler is Patrolman Dan Fogarty.

K-9 dogs typically are kept in service for approximately eight years before being retired. During their service they live with the K-9 handlers and their families and remain with them upon retirement.

The department mourned the loss of two of its retired K-9s last year, Dakota and Neo.

Brick Township Police Chief James Riccio with Officer John Turrin and Turrin's K-9 partner, Vader. Photo courtesy of Brick Township Police Department