K-9 Ammo Settles into His Job with the Coventry P.D.

COVENTRY, RI—Coventry's new police dog, K-9 Ammo, attracted a lot of fans when the police department told his story on Facebook.

So people have been wondering how he's doing.

The answer is A-ok, Lt. Bryan Ricci said.

K-9 Ammo has been going to work with his handler, Ofc. Devan Casey, and settling into the job.

"He's a great dog," said Lt. Ricci, who's the supervisor. K-9 Ammo likes to ride in the police car; he likes to bark; and he's pretty smart, like most German Shepherds. He knows his way around the station, too.

His next assignment will be K-9 training class. Although K-9 Ammo was a police dog before, he has to be re-certified for his job in Coventry.

"Even if Ammo just came off the street, he would have to be re-certified," Lt. Ricci said. But he probably will not start the class until the spring.

"I can tell you we're going to training," Lt. Ricci said, but added they're waiting for a class in Boston. The MBTA Transit Police offered to include K-9 Ammo in a 16-week class for free. Officer Casey and K-9 Ammo will commute to class every day for the 16 weeks.

But, Lt. Ricci said, right now, the MBTA doesn't have any other dogs ready to train, and they can't run the class just for K-9 Ammo. Also, with winter coming on, this type of weather wouldn't be the best conditions for training the dogs.

The dogs are going to learn tracking, and snow makes that just about impossible, he said.

Ultimately, K-9 Ammo will specialize in patrol and narcotics, he said.

Meanwhile, a Coventry resident has promised to buy K-9 Ammo a bulletproof vest when he's re-certified. The vests cost $1,500, so it's a very welcome gift, Lt. Ricci said.

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