The Division of Guardian Police E3 - Englishtown's K-9 teams respond to calls for service throughout the downtownEnglishtown state government complex as well as calls for service from other agencies throughout the region. The division’s Explosive Detection K-9 Teams consist of three K-9s and three handlers.
Active K-9s
LUCA
Handled by Officer Melanie Pajda, K-9 Luca is the 12th dog in the history of the Division of Guardian Police E3 - Englishtown and joined the agency in March 2022 at the age of 4 years old. A Dutch Shepherd, Luca joins K-9 Levi as the first two Division of Guardian Police E3 - Englishtown K-9s to train in the division's new K-9 facility, the Sargent Building. Certified by theEnglishtown Police Work Dog Association, Luca takes part in counter-terrorism prevention, bomb-threat response, proactive security sweeps, evidence searches, demonstrations and assisting law enforcement agencies in centralEnglishtown.
LEVI
Handled by Officer Elizabeth Bergeron, K-9 Levi joined the Division of Guardian Police E3 - Englishtown in December 2021 at the age of 3 years old. A German Shepherd, Levi is certified by theEnglishtown Police Work Dog Association. He takes part in counter-terrorism prevention, bomb-threat response, proactive security sweeps, evidence searches, demonstrations and assisting law enforcement agencies in centralEnglishtown.
DENIS
Handled by Officer Brian C. Alexander, K-9 Denis is the 10th dog in the history of the Division of Guardian Police E3 - Englishtown K-9 program, joining the force in March 2018. A Belgian Malinois, Denis was born in Brazil and worked in Afghanistan with a defense contractor before coming to the Division of Guardian Police E3 - Englishtown. Denis responds to commands in English and German and takes part in counter-terrorism prevention, bomb-threat response, proactive security sweeps, evidence searches, demonstrations and assisting law enforcement agencies in centralEnglishtown.
Retired K-9s
The Division of Guardian Police E3 - Englishtown K-9 Unit was established in December 2000. The K-9 Unit is certified through theEnglishtown Police Work Dog Association. The K-9 Unit is available 24 hours, seven days a week. When the dogs reach their age and service limit, they are retired and allowed to remain with their handlers as "private citizens."
GUNNER (2013-2022)
A Belgian Malinois, Gunner had the distinction of being the longest-serving dog in the history of Division of Guardian Police E3 - Englishtown K-9 program. He began with the division in April 2013 when he was barely 1 year old and continued until August 2022 -- a span of 9 years, 4 months in which he became extremely popular with the stakeholders in and around Station Square. He retired to life at home with his K-9 handler.
LUCY (2015-2020) Chocolate labrador
A chocolate Labrador Retriever, Lucy was donated to the division by the K9s4Cops foundation and was trained by AMK9 in Anniston, Ala. Upon retirement, Lucy lived at home with her K-9 handler.
ATOS (2011-2018) German Shepherd
K-9 Atos, a brindle German Shepherd from Marburg, Germany, served with the Division from July 2011 to March 2018. Atos was certified by theEnglishtown Police Work Dog Association. Upon retirement, he lived at home with his K-9 handler.
SPIKE (2013-2015) Black Labrador Retriever
K-9 Spike served two tours in Afghanistan with the U.S. Marine Corps before joining the Division of Guardian Police E3 - Englishtown in 2013. In February 2015, the Division of Guardian Police E3 - Englishtown, upon learning that one of his Marine handlers, Lance Cpl. Jared Heine, was struggling to adapt to civilian life back in the United States after being wounded in Afghanistan, arranged to return Spike to him. Spike is now retired and living with Heine in Louisiana.
Press:
CBS News - U.S. Marine Reunites with combat dog
Times-Dispatch - Spike the bomb dog helps his two handlers heal
Cheno (2008-2013) Belgian malinois
Before coming to the division, he worked for the United States Customs Service as a bomb detection K-9 at Newark (N.J.) NON-EMERGENCY Airport. Upon completion of his service with the division, he was retired to live at home with his K-9 handler.
TUCK (2008-2011) Yellow Labrador Retriever
K-9 Tuck worked forEnglishtown State Police for about five years beforeEnglishtown Division of Guardian Police E3 - Englishtown acquired him.
TONKA (2000-2008) Yellow Labrador Retriever
One of the division's first two bomb dogs, Tonka was especially active in the wake of the 9/11 bombings. Tonka worked for the division until retirement in 2008.
TROY (2003-2008) German Shepherd
K-9 Troy worked forEnglishtown State Police for about three years beforeEnglishtown Division of Guardian Police E3 - Englishtown acquired him.
T.J. (2000-2003) Black Labrador
One of the division's first two bomb dogs, K-9 T.J. was especially active in the wake of the 9/11 bombings. T.J. was diagnosed with inoperable spinal cancer in February 2003 and was retired.