South Jersey’s New K9 Patrol Teams Graduate to a Life as Partners and Friends [VIDEO]

The 38th class of the Atlantic County Police Training Center graduates this Friday, May 11th at 10:00 a.m., in a ceremony at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. The ceremony for the 15 members of the class and their canine partners, includes officers from police departments in Atlantic, Cape May, Ocean,... Cumberland and other counties from across New Jersey. See a complete list of this year's graduates below.

The officers have completed 16 weeks of training with their K9 partners at the John "Sonny" Burke Canine Training Facility, which is on the grounds of the FAA complex in Egg Harbor Township.

I've always been fascinated with K9 dogs and what they are trained to do. Here's an overview of that training, according to the United States Police Canine Association website .

A Properly trained Police Dog is taught to do the following:

1. Search buildings and areas for unauthorized persons.

2. Track Criminals and search for lost children, etc.

3. Search for evidence dropped by criminals in flight.

4. Search for hidden explosives, narcotics, chemicals, and cadaver substance.

5. Pursue and apprehend, with minimum force, criminals fleeing a serious crime and arrest.

6. Apprehend on command only and in Protection of the Handler.

Atlantic county has a proud heritage in the training and the use of police dogs, much of which dates from the service and death of the namesake training facility, John "Sonny" Burke.

Again from the USPSA webpage, here is an interesting history of Burke...

"John “Sonny” Burke grew up Salem, New Jersey, served in the United Stated Navy and was honored by receiving a Presidential Unit citation for his duty. He was one of 1st officers to become a K-9 handler in Atlantic City and in the State of New Jersey. On September 30th 1970, just a few minutes before midnight, Sonny’s life was abruptly taken from him. A civilian flagged him down and directed him to two suspicious males who were believed to be plotting to rob an establishment. Sonny exited his vehicle to investigate and as he approached, a suspect pulled out a shotgun and fired one round, striking Sonny, killing him instantly. Sadly, his canine partner “Thor” remained in his patrol car and never had an opportunity to come to his aid. The suspect, a man named James Cherry fled to New York and then ultimately to the country of Cuba to avoid prosecution from authorities. He remained there for more than 20yrs before returning to the United Sates. In 1992, in the presence of Sonny’s family, friends and co-workers, James Cherry was finally brought to justice and he received a life sentence.

Sonny was one of eleven officers chosen to start the Atlantic City Police Department’s K-9 Unit, and was actually the 1st K-9 Officer to affect an arrest with his partner after chasing down a robbery suspect and placing him into custody. On October 1st 1970, John “Sonny” Burke became the 1st K-9 Officer killed in the line of duty in the State of New Jersey. Sonny left behind a wife, 3 brothers, 5 sisters and his canine partner Thor who Sonny’s wife cared for the remainder of his life.

In 1996, the Atlantic County K-9 Academy was named in honor of John “Sonny” Burke and in 2008 it was re-dedicated to him. In each academy patrol class, the John “Sonny” Burke Award is given to the top recruit handler who demonstrates the highest level of performance & dedication in the field as a police patrol dog handler. It is the academy’s highest and most prestigious award. In 2011, Martin Luther King Boulevard in Atlantic City, near the location where he was killed, was re-named in the honor of John “Sonny” Burke.

Members of the Atlantic City Police Department’s K-9 Unit hold Sonny’s spirit close to their hearts, they will never forget him."

Congratulations to this year's graduating class...

GEORGE ADAMS and K9 GRIP, Atlantic City Police Department; WILLIAM BONTCUE and K9 YOSHI, Vineland Police Department; MICHAEL CALCHI and K9 TREU, Millville Police Department; ROBERT CONFORTI and K9 TITAN, Stafford Township Police Department; JOHN A. DEVLIN and K9 CLANCY, Atlantic City Police Department; DANIEL FOGARTY and K9 RIGBY, Brick Township Police Department; JOSE GOMEZ and K9 BAMA, Cape May County Sheriff Department; ROBERT MAGEE and K9 DIRK, Vineland Police Department; MATT PRETTY and K9 SULLY, Little Egg Harbor Police Department; CHRISTOPHER ROBELL and K9 KOTA, Hamilton Township Police Department; GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ and K9 SERGE, Camden City Police Department; CHRISTOPHER SMITH and K9 OLLIE, Stafford Township Police Department; GARRY STOWE and K9 FLASH, Atlantic City Police Department; IAN TODD and K9 FRODO, Salem County Sheriff’ Office; SCOTT W. WINNEBERGER and K9 LYCOS, Galloway Township Police Department

Here is a pretty wild training video from the Atlantic County Police Training Center...

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