Newly Graduated NYPD K-9s Named in Honor of Fallen Heroes

NEW YORK (TND) — The NYPD welcomed its newest K-9s this week by naming each police dog after officers killed in the line of duty.

It has been a tradition within the department since the 1980s and is still used to honor officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

“We want to be very active in keeping their memory alive,” Lt. William Esposito, commander of the Critical Response Command (CRC) K-9 Unit, told The National Desk on Friday.

Twenty-one K-9s, as well as their namesakes, were honored at a ceremony held Thursday in New York City. While 13 police dogs were assigned to the CRC K-9 Unit, the other eight were assigned to the bomb squad.

Among the police dogs was K-9 Joey, a 4-year-old Labrador Retriever named after Lt. Giuseppe “Joey” Petrosino, the first commander of the NYPD’s Bomb Squad.

Petrosino was murdered in 1909 while investigating a case involving the BlackHand, a precursor to what is now known as the Mafia. He was in Sicily when he died.

“Petrosino served with the NYPD for 25 years and was 48 years old when he was killed,” the NYPD said. “To this day, Lieutenant Petrosino remains the only member of the NYPD killed in the line of duty overseas.”

K-9 Billy was named in memory of Detective William Holfester, who died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. According to the New York Police Department, he contracted the disease “after inhaling toxic chemicals and materials while working hundreds of hours at Ground Zero,” the site of the deadly September 11 attacks.

Holfester, an avid boater who loved being on the water, served 17 years with the NYPD.

K-9 Ranger was also named in honor of an officer who died after 9/11. Sgt. Christopher Christodoulou died in 2017 after developing stage IV brain tumors “as a direct result of exposure to the toxins” at the site.

The police dog’s name is a nod to Christodoulou’s favorite hockey team: the New York Rangers.

“When Chris was ill, the Rangers were almost a source of strength for him. His family even got the chance to meet them after being invited to a private practice,” the NYPD said.

Some of the police dogs, including K-9 Joey, have been with the department for at least a year, while others are new to the force. All are 2 years or older.

“No dog goes out on the street before 2 p.m.,” Esposito said, adding that many dogs are expected to work until they are about 8 or 10 years old.

The goal is to improve public safety, with all dogs extensively trained in bomb detection. The K-9s, made up primarily of German Shorthaired Pointers and Labradors, are deployed to iconic hot spots during events throughout NYC to keep people safe.

According to the NYPD, the animals are actively searching for explosives in the fight against terrorism.

“The dog is just there for their nose — not to help apprehend offenders,” Esposito said. “They’re what we call task-specific.”

Esposito said the police dogs undergo state-mandated training. Once they graduate, the training continues, with the animals being trained to detect the “most modern threat” in the U.S. or abroad.

“We want to make sure that we have everything under control, regardless of what happens near a war zone or outside of a war zone, regardless of what the enemy strikes first, should it ever come here,” Esposito said.

“Any new idea that is picked up spreads quickly, so if we see something that is perceived as an attack or a potential attack in a foreign environment, we need to prepare for the possibility that it will come here,” he added.

At the graduation ceremony, New York City Police Chief Jeffrey Maddrey presented the K-9s and their handlers with a certificate, adding that the city is grateful that they are defending its residents and visitors.

“We’re talking about a loyal, dedicated partner here,” Maddrey said of the K-9s.

The police dogs all smiled for photos with their handlers and families, as well as loved ones of the fallen officers. Esposito said it was an honor to recognize them all, including family members of NYPD heroes.

“It’s really nice to see grandchildren who have now become grandparents being proud of the sacrifices their grandfather or grandfather made,” he said.