Officer Hicks and K-9 ‘Spike’ 
graduate canine training
EAST HARTFORD — In a ceremony held at Goodwin University,  Putnam Police Officer Roy Hicks and his K-9 Partner “Spike” graduated from the Connecticut Capital Region Training Group, Canine Class #VI. 
Spike, an 18-month-old, male, long-haired German Shepherd was 1 of 13 dogs in Class #VI, 12 dogs coming from nine police departments around the state and one dog from Amherst, Mass.  
The rigorous and physically challenging 12-week training class consisted of obedience, suspect tracking and apprehension, evidence recovery, tracking of missing and endangered persons, and tactical medical treatment for their K-9.
Spike’s additional training included being cross trained in scent detection for narcotics and other dangerous drugs. Officer Hicks and K-9 Spike are certified by the North American Police Work Dog Association, and the K-9 Team will be assigned to the department’s Patrol Division.
The addition of Spike was made possible by a $32,000 grant from the Stanton K-9 Foundation in Massachusetts which assisted in the one-time purchase of Spike, training expenses, associated equipment, and assisting with upfitting of the dedicated cruiser.
  The dedicated police cruiser was donated by the continued generosity of Craig Gates and the Gates Auto Group which provided a Dodge Durango Pursuit SUV to the department. The Gates Auto Group has been a long-time supporter of the Putnam Police K-9 Unit donating a cruiser to a K-9 Team for the past 15 years.

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