The K-9 program is part of Arlington’s community policing strategy, which aims to further engage the public with the police department while providing investigative resources to the patrol and narcotics divisions. As part of this initiative, Officer Hogan continuously performs K-9 demonstrations for local organizations and in schools, which fosters understanding and builds trust between the police department and community at large. He also provides tours of the police station to children, attends community events and senior living facilities, and responds as mutual aid to other towns.
Eiko and his handler, Officer Michael Hogan, completed a 14-week training program in 2017 at the Boston Police Canine Academy. The Academy covers several important topics, including tracking, building searches, obedience, agility, apprehension of suspects, protection of the handler and area searches.
Eiko graduated from the Academy on Dec. 30, 2017. His first day on the job was Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2018.
Eiko, the German Shepard has already received an extensive amount of training, 10 months of which he completed before joining the department. Additionally, Eiko underwent a six-week narcotics detection training to become a dual-purpose K-9, working both in patrol and providing narcotics detection when needed.
Eiko was working with the late K9 Dasty in 2017, prior to his passing. Dasty was a important member of the Arlington Police Department for over a decade. Some accomplishments of the late K9 Dasty include finding the gun used in a 2015 shooting in Thorndike Field, catching a robbery suspect in East Arlington in 2011 and tracking a burglary suspect and catching him in 2007.
News Article: Arlington Police Mourn the Loss of K-9 Dasty