Photo: Shari Small/WBZ NewsRadio
BILLERICA, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Billerica Police Department has added a new K-9 officer to the force.
KC, a 2-month-old black lab, was named after Officer Kenneth Collins, who died in the line of duty in 1969. Billerica Police Chief Roy Frost said that the dog was named by Collins’s widow in his honor.
“She was named by Margie Collins after her husband, Kenneth Collins, so KC is the initials,” Frost said. “She was very excited about it.”
Chief Frost said Margie passed away on the same day that the dog was being picked up by the police department from the breeders. They decided to bring KC to Margie’s funeral to introduce her to the family.
“This brought so much joy to that family,” he said. “They were so happy to hold the dog knowing that she would live the memory of their dad and grandfather and great grandfather into the future.”
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According to Billerica Police Lieutenant Commander John Harring, KC has already shown signs of a great K-9.
“She wants to play, play rough I guess you would say,” Harring said. “She’s aggressive at defending her toys, her space; she wants to seek out things.”
The lieutenant also detailed the beginning of KC's training, which has been focused on tracking.
“She’ll be able to search off-lead for missing people or suspects, also evidence recovery, where someone throws something out or drops something,” he said.
Harring also mentioned that once she matures a bit, they will start to train her in a more specialized role.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Shari Small (@ShariSmallNews) reports.