K9 'Unity' Joins Camden County Police Department

CAMDEN, NJ — Second-grade students gave a warm welcome to Unity, a one-year-old chocolate Labrador, when he visited them at Forest Hill Elementary School last week.

The Camden County Police Department said its newest K9 officer will be part of the department's continuing outreach initiatives in Camden City.

Unity and his partner, Ofc. Peter Macpherson, graduated from the K9 police academy in January and are part of the Community Outreach Unit according to the department. They met with the young students on Thursday.

Chief Gabriel Rodriguez said connecting with the youngest members of the community is critical to the CCPD's mission, and that the department will use every tool possible to do so.

“That said, a dog like Unity will continue to give us the opportunity to break down dialogue barriers to our youngest and most impressionable residents- our youth," said Rodriguez. "In addition, to his work with kids in the city he will also be a great tool for recruitment for the agency.”

Unity is also training to detect narcotics and find missing people, a CBS3 report said.

Commissioner Virginia Betteridge said officials are thrilled to welcome him to Camden, and expect positive things from his presence.

“The kids really reacted well to Unity and that’s big part of why we wanted to add this K9 officer added to our police department,” Betteridge said.

County police said Unity's arrival of the department's continual investment in community engagement.