Middletown Police Officer William Maio and his police dog Judge have completed a rigorous, 16-week training course with the Connecticut State Police K-9 Training Academy.
Maio was one of 16 officers from around the state that sucessfully completed the training and took part in the 156th patrol dog graduation Thursday at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain.
He has been with the department for more than seven years and was most recently assigned to the department’s street crime unit. Maio and Judge will now be assigned to day shift in the patrol division.
The Middletown Police Department’s K-9 Unit consists of German Shepherds and one Labrador Retriever.
The officers and their canine live together at the officer's home and are considered a member of their family, according to Middletown Police. The K-9 team is on call 24 hours a day to respond to support the patrol division. Upon the retirement of either the K-9 or the officer, the dog remains with the officer.
The class roster is:
- TFC Michael Zella and K-9 Hero, Connecticut State Police Troop C
- Officer Nicholas Rankin and K-9 Keeto, Norwich Police
- Officer Jason Cooling and K-9 Remington, Torrington Police
- Officer Sean Degnan and K-9 Diesel, Milford Police
- Officer Robert Smurlo Jr. and K-9 Altos, Greenwich Police
- Officer Michael Termini and K-9 Aron, Putnam Police
- Officer Joseph Malone and K-9 Jaxx, Windsor Locks Police
- Officer Corey Somoskey and K-9 Magnum, Plymouth Police
- Officer Joseph Walsh and K-9 Hondo, Hartford Police
- Officer Devin Saylor and K-9 Blaze, New Britain Police
- Officer Shannon Miller and K-9 Kendo, Old Saybrook Police
- Officer Chris Dufresne and K-9 Bruin, Enfield Police
- Officer Gregory Lee and K-9 Storm, Trumbull Police
- Officer Gus Castro and K-9 Kobe, Bridgeport Police
- Correction Officer Aaron Bowman and K-9 Striker, Connecticut Department of Corrections
