EASTHAMPTON — The city’s Police Department has expanded its K-9 unit, adding another team to its division this month.

Officer Justin Malinowski and his partner, K-9 Jerry, on June 12 kicked off their first patrol shift together after recently graduating from the 12-week K-9 patrol school out of the Berkshire County Sheriff’s office. And already, the pair has formed a good bond.

“He’s very loud … and talkative,” 32-year-old Malinowski said.

Jerry, an 18-month-old Belgian Malinois, comes to the department from Shallow Creek Kennels in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, courtesy of funding from a $32,000 Stanton Foundation grant. The first time Jerry met Malinowski, the young canine threw his paws on his shoulders as if he was attempting to hug him, he said.

“At that point, I knew we gotta get Jerry,” he said.

With the duo’s recent graduation, Malinowski and Jerry are both now fully certified by the North American Police Work Dog Association in building, area and article searches, obedience, and tracking and aggression control.

Malinowski and Jerry join K-9 Gino, who has been with the department for more than six years, and his partner, Sgt. Andrew Beaulieu.

The demand on the K-9 division and call volume led the department to seek out an additional team. Although Gino and Beaulieu have been working the midnight shift, they are required to be on call 24 hours a day. Outside of Easthampton, the team has been deployed for mutual aid services in surrounding communities, including Westhampton, Southampton and Holyoke.

“We’re really excited to have Jerry on board. Now, Gino finally has some backup and someone to share the workload with,” Beaulieu said.

Easthampton Police Chief Robert Alberti also noted that although still very healthy and active, Gino, who is now 7 years old, has entered the second half of his career.

“The benefit is having two K-9 teams available for wonderful police work and community services outreach,” he said.

Alberti said timing was of the essence as the department was eligible for the Stanton Foundation grant and having Jerry will provide good assistance when Gino is ready for retirement. The grant pays for training for both Jerry and his handler as well as Jerry’s kennel and the outfitting of the patrol cruiser. He will also be outfitted with his own bulletproof vest.

In the meantime, Jerry still has some training to do as he and Malinowski are slated to attend narcotics detection school in the near future, and can learn from older dogs like Gino.

“His work drive is very high, so I’m just looking forward to getting him out and working,” Malinowski said.

Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.]]>