In September of 2004 the Wilmington Police Department re-established a much needed K-9 program after many years in absence. The last working police dog this department had was in the 1980’s.
Officer Eric Palmer was tapped to run this program and the search for a dog began. An experienced K-9 handler, Officer Mark Tsoukalas of the Billerica, MA Police department, accompanied Officer Palmer to Akron, NY to evaluate potential dogs for the Wilmington Police.
After careful consideration, Officer Palmer selected Kimo, a German Shepard which had been imported from the Czech Republic. Kimo had in fact just landed in Toronto Canada several hours prior to Officers Palmer and Tsoukalas’ arriving at the kennel. Both Officers then put Kimo and several other dogs through an extensive battery of tests to determine their suitability for police service.
Ultimately Kimo proved to be the best dog, and with that, a new partnership began.
At the end of September 2004, Kimo and Officer Palmer began their 16 week intensive learning process at the Boston Police Department K-9 Academy. Both needed to learn new skills and to develop a bond that would keep them both safe and allow them to provide the best possible services for the members of the Wilmington community.
While at the Academy Kimo trained in:
Obedience
Agility
Criminal Apprehension
Crowd Control
Evidence Search and Recovery
Building Searches
Area Searches
Tracking for the Human Scent (Fleeing Suspect/Missing Persons)
Upon completion of this course, Kimo and Officer Palmer attended an 11 week Narcotics Detection Course also held at the Boston Police Department K-9 Academy in the spring of 2005. After Kimo completed the course, he is trained to alert to the odors of:
Marijuana
Cocaine
Heroin
Methamphetamine
In addition, in the spring of 2005, Kimo and Officer Palmer received a national certification through the (USPCA) Untied States Police Canine Association for narcotics detection.
In the summer of 2005 Kimo and Officer Palmer attended the USPCA PD-1 Police Dog K9 Trials in Portsmouth, NH. This contest/certification evaluates Police K9’s from the greater New England region.
Kimo and Officer Palmer collected the following awards:
United States Police Canine Association Police Dog 1 PatrolCertification/Field Trial Region #9 - June 2005: 2nd Place Overall 1st Place Team 3rd Place Criminal Apprehension
United Stated Police Canine Association Police Dog 1 Patrol Certification/Field Trial Region #9 - June 2006: 2nd Place Team
1st Place Obedience
3rd Place Agility
3rd Place Evidence Recovery
United States Police Canine Association Police Dog 1 Patrol Certification/Field Trial Region #9 June 2007:
1st Place Overall Region Champion
1st Place Team
1st Place Agility
1st Place Obedience
On June 5th & 6th 2008, The United States Police Canine Association held their annual Patrol Dog Certifications and competition. This event was attended by K9 Officers From Mass., Conn., New Hampshire, New York, and Canada. There where 15 K9 Teams participating in the field trials.
A huge congratulations to Eric Palmer and K9 Kimo, who for the second year in a row took First Place Overall in a USPCA competition.
USPCA Certified Patrol Dog Team
1st. Place Apprehension
1st. Place Search Work
2nd Place Agility
2nd. Place Tracking 1st Place Overall!
Image:
U.S.P.C.A. Field Trial Region #7 April 2009: 1st Place
U.S.P.C.A. Field Trial Region #4 June 2009: 1st Place Overall Search 1st Place Agility 2nd Place Evidence Search 2nd Place Team 3rd Place Obedience 3rd Place Overall
U.S.P.C.A. Region #9 July 2009: 1st Place Suspect Search 1st Place Agility 2nd Place Overall 4th Place Apprehension.
U.S.P.C.A. Field Trial Region #9 June 2010: 1st Place Overall Search 1st Place Team 1st Place Suspect Search 1st Place Evidence Recovery 1st Place Agility 2nd Place overall 2nd Place Obedience 3rd Place Apprehension
Kimo and Officer Palmer were assigned to the patrol division patrolling the streets of Wilmington. The K9 unit routinely conducted building checks, narcotics searches, and responded as needed to other communities requiring assistance, amongst their normal patrol responsibilities.
The duo had several successful narcotics finds, including a substantial narcotics hide uncovered for the Town of Billerica Police.
It is with great pride that it can be stated here that this program couldn’t have been started without the generous donation from the E.F. Shea Corporation. This substantial donation allowed for the purchase of Kimo, and retro-fitting a former supervisor’s cruiser to make it K9 ready. Maintaining the K9 unit costs close to nothing, as Kimo’s medical care has been donated by Wignall’s Animal Hospital of Dracut, MA and his food is also donated by the Wilmington Pet Shop of Wilmington, Ma.
Chief of Police - Michael R. Begonis
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