K-9 Unit

The Easthampton Police Department's K-9 Unit was established in March 2017, made possible through a generous grant from the Stanton Foundation of Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Stanton grant provided initial funding for acquisition of a canine, as well as training and purchases necessary to implement this unit within our department. 

Our K-9 handler is Detective Andrew Beaulieu and his partner is K-9 "Gino." The unit is supervised by Lieutenant Dennis Scribner.

Gino

K-9 Gino, a Belgian Malinois from the Czech Republic, was obtained by the department at the age of 15 months from Shallow Creek Kennels in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania. The team underwent in-depth training through patrol school hosted by the Berkshire County Sheriffs Department, and narcotics school hosted by the Massachusetts Police Work Dog Association.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3

Certifications

Our K-9 team is certified in Patrol and Narcotics Detection through the North American Police Work Dog Association. They are also members of the Massachusetts Police Work Dog Association and the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association, granting them the ability to deploy in both states. To keep their skills sharp, our team trains weekly with numerous other K-9 teams in Western Massachusetts.

Success of Unit

Our K-9 unit has already seen much success, having located several suspects in active criminal investigations, as well as locating evidence of crimes and missing persons. They have also participated in many community events and demonstrations throughout the area.

Veterinary Services & K-9 Safety

Veterinary services are provided by staff at the Easthampton Animal Hospital, and monthly grooming is donated by Furs A Flyin' in Easthampton. Gino's bulletproof vest was donated by Vested Interest in K9s of Taunton, Massachusetts, and MA Vest-A-Dog of Walpole, Massachusetts has donated medical supplies and equipment for Gino's training and personal needs.

Donations

We are often asked about donations to support the needs of our K-9 unit. If you are interested in making a donation, we have established a fund to help defray the cost of purchasing items that Gino needs at work and at home. Cash or checks made payable to the "Easthampton K-9 Fund" can be mailed or dropped off at the Easthampton Public Safety Complex with attention to: Detective Andrew Beaulieu/ K-9 Unit.