A number of years ago the Billerica Police Department instituted a K9 unit to provide its citizens with an even higher level of community service.
The K9 is utilized for:
- Drug detection
- Vehicle searches
- Building searches
- Tracking and searching for lost individuals
- Tracking and apprehension of criminal suspects
- Evidence search and recovery
- Officer protection
- Community relations
The Billerica Police K9 Unit will accommodate requests for demonstrations as time and scheduling allows.
Active BPD K9’s
Cassius is partnered with Officer Ryan Koles since June 2023. The K-9 has been named Cassius White, in honor and recognition of the first known Billerica Police officer to give his life in the line of duty. Koles and Cassius White have received training in tracking and intend to pursue additional training in search and rescue and human remains detection.
Skye has been partnered with Officer Rocco Magliozzi since 2019. She is certified in wilderness search, crime scene search (vehicles, buildings and arson), evidence recovery and is able to locate living and deceased people as well as human remains.
Former BPD K9’s
Yak
Yak (Retired) was BPD’s patrol dog until 2023. Yak continues to reside with Sgt Mark Tsoukalas at his home.
“Blue” (retired) shown with Patrolman Rocco Magliozzi.
Officer MacEachern (retired) and Wizard
Wizard (Deceased) – Officer Don MacEachern (Retired) and his K9 partner Wizard passed certification with the Connecticut State Police in December of 2015. The certification requires a bloodhound team to complete a one mile trail with a six hour delayed start crossing several different surfaces including pavement and areas of water. Wizard’s tracking skills are be used to locate missing persons and suspects. Wizard passed away in 2016 after complications from bloat.
Barek
Barek (Retired/Deceased) 9/1/11 – Barek retired in 2011 and was replaced by K9 Yak. Barek passed away in 2017 from age related issues. Barek served the department for over 8 years!
Rosie
Rosie (Transfer) 2011 – After 2 1/2 years serving the residents of Billerica and the region, our trusty Bloodhound Rosie will be making a difficult career move and has accepted a position with the Union County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit in Pennsylvania.
In November of 2011 “Rosie” was donated to BPD by the New Hampshire State police. NHSP happened to have a two year old female bloodhound that they offered to BPD after her predecessor, Diesel, passed away . Rosie had been donated to NHSP but they did not have a handler suited for her. BPD gladly accepted Rosie as our new Bloodhound.
Because her handler, John Harring, was promoted to Sergeant he could no longer continue his K9 duties. During her time here she has proven herself as an excellent tracker and she will be missed by the entire region. It is with mixed emotion that we say goodbye to Rosie but we know she will continue her effective mission with Union County.
Diesel
Diesel 10/31/11 – At the end of October 2011 Diesel passed away. It was discovered that Diesel had a serious illness (cancer) that resulted in his untimely death. Diesel was approximately 6 years old. The department obtained him in February 2009 from the Riverside Bloodhound Rescue in Pennsylvania. Diesel replaced Annabelle, Billerica’s original hound.
Annabell
Annabelle 1/20/09 – Our trusty Bloodhound Annabelle passed away due to gastrointestinal illness. We appreciate all the work she did not only for our department but the many others who she served. Thanks to Officer John Harring who put in countless hours of training in order to make Annabelle the great tracker that she was. Chief Dan Rosa
Annabell was was donated by 832’s Deputy Dogs of Adel, Georgia. Please visit their site and learn about the wonderful service they provide to law enforcement agencies all over the country.
Annabell was an outstanding tracker and was responsible for the rescue of many individuals. She passed before her time and is missed by BPD and all the residents she served.
