GLOVERSVILLE — City police will welcome a new member to their ranks sometime next month when the Gloversville Police Department procures a police dog that will undergo training through December to establish the department’s new K-9 program.
City Police Chief Marc Porter reported to the Common Council on Tuesday that the department will purchase a police dog in mid-August for the official establishment of a city-based K-9 program that the department has been planning for since 2018 and was funded in the current year’s budget. The city included $24,585 in the 2019 budget for the K-9 patrol unit.
Porter said that negotiations between the city labor attorney and city Police Benevolent Association are soon to be finalized to establish a compensation package for the police dog handler. The department earlier this year selected Officer Michael Quattrocchi to serve as dog handler.
Once the compensation agreement is approved by the city and the dog has been acquired, both Quattrocchi and the K-9 will attend certification training beginning on Sept. 2 running through December through the Albany County Sheriff’s Department.
The department is currently preparing for the police dog’s arrival by purchasing specialized uniforms and equipment to support the K-9’s training, operational and at-home needs.
The Common Council during the July 11 meeting approved a resolution authorizing city police to execute an $8,157.81 purchase order agreement with La Rosa’s Automotive Inc. to retrofit an existing patrol car for use by Quattrocchi and the K-9.
The car will be outfitted with a Havis K-9 transport system or kennel insert installed in the rear seat of the patrol car allowing the dog to easily enter and exit the vehicle through a rear passenger door. The kennel system ensures the safety and security of the K-9 during transportation.
The car will also be outfitted with an Ace9 Hot-N-Pop Pro heat alarm sensor that will transmit status information, warnings and alerts to Quattrocchi through a remote long range pager to protect the K-9 from the potential dangers of a hot vehicle. The patrol car will additionally be equipped with a 10 inch fan to further protect the police dog from internal vehicle temperatures.
