Newest Aquidneck Island Cop Will Sniff Out Crime, Wag His Tail

Aquidneck Island won’t be without its own dedicated K-9 Unit for long after the Middletown Police Department got the blessing of their town Town Council earlier this month to reestablish a K-9 Unit to work on drug and search and rescue cases.

The argument Officer David Guerriero offered the council also noted the immense community relations win a K-9 Unit can bring along with noting the glaring fact that until now, there is no dedicated K-9 Unit on Aquidneck Island.

Armed with the unanimous backing of the Town Council, the department is now ready to introduce its newest member to the public.

Meet Woody, an 18-month old Black Labrador Retriever.

Woody, who came to the Town Council meeting on July 6 along with Officer Guerriero, was donated by Dogwood Labradors in North Kingstown.

The dog officially joins the department on July 20 and he and Guerriero will immediately begin a 10-week training program.

After that, Woody will begin his tour of duty with Guerriero in the department’s community policing division, ready to help police detect narcotics and find suspects and victims in search and rescue missions.

He’ll also be ready to give the departments in Newport and Portsmouth a hand, which will prove to be an invaluable tool on the island. Currently, police on Aquidneck Island have to request assistance from the State Police or an outside department, which can eat up valuable time.

Middletown last had a K-9 unit in the late 1980s.

In a statement, the department thanked everyone who made it possible for Woody to join the force.

“The Middletown Police Department would like to thank Dogwood Labradors, the Potter League, Newport Animal Hospital and other members of the community for their generous donations that have helped re-establish the program,” the department stated.