Students Watch Canines

DOG DAY AFTERNOON IN COPS' WAR ON DRUGS

MONTVILLE - As Montville Patrolman Frank Cooney led Thor by his leash
out onto the baseball field, the kids could no longer contain their silence.

The huge crowd of kindergarten-through-fifth graders at Hilldale
School laughed in delight and awe as the 4-year-old German shepherd
bounced about, sniffing a series of yellow cones that had been placed
on the ground.

When Thor got to the fourth one, he knocked it over and obediently
sat as Cooney lifted the cone so all the kids could see what was
underneath: a large plastic baggie that was filled with marijuana.

Cooney pulled out a long, knotted towel and the kids roared with
laughter as Thor grabbed the towel and held on so tightly that his
whole body lifted off the ground as Cooney whirled around in circles.

Playing tug of war was the dog's reward for finding the drugs, the
officers explained.

Throughout last week, the elementary schools and middle school
observed national Drug Awareness Week, guidance counselor Susan Stagnarzi said.

The weeklong observance ended Friday when state and local police
brought dogs from their K-9 units to the schools to demonstrate how
they can sniff out drugs.

Friday marked the first time that police have ever come to the
Montville schools to show off their dogs.

"Because it's Drug Awareness Week, we wanted to show the kids the way
police officers can find drugs and show them that law enforcement is
out there to protect the kids," she said. "And, kids love dogs."

Trooper Archer Jones, who works with a dog named Nero, kicked off the
presentation by explaining all the types of jobs a K-9 dog can do.

"Every day I get to work with my best friend, my buddy, my partner -
my dog," he told the kids.

"Every day they pay me to go to work to play with a dog. It doesn't
get much better than that," he said, eliciting laughter from the children.