Law enforcement agencies have a plethora of events they either offer to the public or are invited to for citizens’ special occasions. In Hartford, Connecticut, city police canines capable of various law enforcement specialties were a huge hit at the most recent rollout of “First Responder Friday” held at Hartford High School.
Although I expend every effort to be familiar with concepts and programs regarding law enforcement, fire/rescue services, and emergency medical care, the First Responder Friday tradition is one I can not say I readily recognized, so I researched the origin and caught up to speed.
According to WSPA 7 News, First Responder Friday was started in 1981 by a broadcast journalist named Fred Cunningham.
“First Responder Friday is a heartwarming initiative by WSPA 7NEWS, where every Friday morning, Fred Cunningham introduces us to the heroic first responders in our communities. These dedicated individuals work tirelessly to keep us safe and make a positive impact,” depicting “remarkable heroes” and “their inspiring stories.”
He carries on the legacy today, airing segments containing exposés of different first responders working in various locales.
Sounds like a staunch supporter of police, fire, and EMS professionals performing dangerous feats. That garnered my immediate respect for Mr. Cunningham.
To place a face to the name, here is one recent episode of Cunningham’s First Responder Friday, hailing a police officer whose personal story is one of many just like it, explaining the trials and tribulations of people who experience injustice…essentially their Why when asked about police work and what motivated them to become a cop:
https://youtu.be/TdEd5-hyAsM?si=4LFWm9SV3-8NFuvG
Anyone can binge on the litany of First Responder Friday episodes illustrating community heroes who selflessly elected to endure the lengthy application/hiring process, succeed all the rigors of academy training necessary to become a bona fide law enforcement officer or firefighter or EMT, and place themselves in perilous situations on behalf of others. Google-search the words “First Responder Friday,” a treasure trove awaits.
Back to the Hartford police canines who, in similar fashion to Mr. Cunningham’s platform showcasing first responders, captured the attention of a robust student population at Hartford High School, under the auspices of Hartford law-enforcement officers.
From a Hartford Police spokesperson: “Thanks to Hartford High School for having us for First Responder Friday! We got to enjoy time with all of the students and hang out with Humphrey, who is our explosive detection canine at HPD!” A camera roll of images depicting the Hartford H.S. gig was posted by one of the Hartford Police canine teams, namely K9 Kady.
On Friday or any other day, Hartford Police K9 Kady goes to various schools and businesses in the jurisdiction whose population is roughly 121,000.
Given the much-heralded deployment of police canines trained and serving in unique capacities, K9 Kady is known as a “Facility Dog,” those words embroidered on the side of the dog’s vest, right next to the Hartford Police Department patch.
(Photo courtesy of the Hartford Police K9 Kady.)
Facility Dog
According to the Hartford Courant, K9 Kady was introduced to the police department in late 2022…and “she’s not for taking down suspects.”
Almost all the references to K9 Kady in the news reporting archives label her a ‘comfort dog,” not a facility dog. We can infer that the different labels equate to the relegated duty of the dog: cater comfort for sworn and non-sworn police personnel and all citizens in association.
Via K9 Kady’s official social media account, she is a Yellow Lab born on 03/11/20 and her function is as a facility dog “specializing in officer wellness, peer support, community outreach, and victim services.”
K9 Kady is “an energetic [Yellow] Labrador who serves as both an emotional support dog for officers and helps with community outreach. Officer Anthony Gaudino, who has been a police officer for nearly 12 years, was chosen to be part of the Puppies Behind Bars program. This organization teams up with incarcerated individuals who train service dogs for first responders, police officers, and military veterans.
“Since Kady’s arrival last year, both the officers and dispatchers involved, along with the community at large, have embraced her. Officer Gaudino and Kady attend community events, meetings, and address quality-of-life issues, such as loitering. Their partnership has been a match made in heaven,” a police blotter articulated.
A telling blurb published by Fox61 encapsulates how tremendously instrumental canines are in police work…namely public relations.
“You build a lot more rapport with citizens throughout the city as a community service officer,” [Hartford Police Officer Anthony] Gaudino said. “You might be walking by yourself, and people will say hi to you but when you have her [Kady] it turns into a four-, five-minute conversation and you can build rapport with them.”
(Photo courtesy of the Hartford Police K9 Kady.)
Officer Gaudino added, “She brings a smile to their face and that’s what it’s all about here. Just kind of boost morale a little bit.”
Imagine how K9 Kady catered to the students at Hartford High School during First Responder Friday! At any school, any time. With multiples white papers written about the potentially burdened psyches of young persons post-pandemic and its lockdowns, a comfort dog sounds like a perfect antidote on campuses.
(Photo courtesy of the Hartford Police K9 Kady.)
In the array of imagery contained in the camera roll linked above, it is evident the student base and faculty soaked up the silent, soulful presence of K9 Kady.
Those kids wouldn’t have had the pleasure if the school districts that vehemently wanted to eradicate cops from campuses got their way. Tsk-tsk-tsk…
Thankfully, First Responder Friday is a solid thing at the core of community relations and citizen engagement, of all ages. Folks get to chat it up with their public safety pros, talk about their wares, ask questions, exchange ideas, and shape the coming days for safety and sanctity in the environs where they live and/or work.
We close with kudos for Mr. Cunningham whose concept born in 1981 honors the legacy of cops today as availed every morning on his First Responder Friday highlights.