Milford Police Want To Create New K9 Unit

MILFORD, MA — Milford Police Chief Michael Pighetti is asking the Board of Selectmen for permission to restart a police dog unit within the department.

In a letter to Selectmen, Pighetti says that the department is eligible for a grant that will fund a K9 program for up to five years. The unit would consist of one dog and a handler, who would be picked from within the department.

Pighetti says in his letter the K9 unit would be "an effort to enhance our overall efficiency and effectiveness is responding to community needs."

Milford has not had a K9 since 2005, when the department's last dog entered retirement. Many local towns, including Mendon, Hopkinton, and Holliston, have K9 units.

Depending on the training, K9 dogs can be used for a range of police work, from finding people to finding explosives or drugs. The Board of Selectmen will discuss Pighetti's request at the meeting scheduled for Monday night.