The newest cops at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Police Department (MTAPD) have a bite that’s bigger than their bark.
Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal was home to a heartwarming event Tuesday as the MTAPD celebrated the graduation of its latest class of K-9 officers. The ceremony honored the dedicated dogs and their handlers who have completed a rigorous training program to ensure the safety and security of the New York- and Connecticut-based transit system.
The event spotlighted 13 ruff-and-tough K-9 officers, mostly German shepherds or shepherd mixes, and their human partners who made it through 12 weeks of pawcamp requiring them to work in the MTA’s massive transit system. The training, which took place in Stormville, NY, involved specialized exercises to prepare the dogs for the unique challenges of working in a busy urban transit environment.
They spent weeks jumping on top of trains, checking luggage, and doing other exercises to get them in tip-top doggy shape for their new careers in law enforcement.
MTAPD Sgt. Alison Gentile explained that the young dogs start their extensive training when they are just one year old. Young, for sure, but ready and willing to take on a challenging career in law enforcement.
“We incorporate basic obedience, a little agility and we train them to detect explosive devices,” Gentile said. “We have 24/7 coverage with our canine teams and we help out other agencies as well.”
And then, it was time to graduate.
The pooches paraded down a hall in the massive terminal alongside their fellow human counterparts, delighting audiences with their mere presence. Some barked, some jumped and some looked around inquisitively as they made their way to the stage—brimming with pride—and ready to accept their badges from their new boss, MTAPD chief, Thomas Taffe.
“It’s usually once or twice a year that we do this very big celebration,” Taffe said. “A lot of people show up at the grand, iconic Grand Central Station for it.”
Led by MTAPD trainers, the crime-fighting canines are now skilled in handling various scenarios relevant to public transportation safety. This includes general patrol duties with a special emphasis on detecting explosives.
MTA officials emphasized the critical role of K-9 units in maintaining a secure environment within the subterranean and ground-level transit network. Even in an age of modern crime-fighting technology, the role of the dog is invaluable when it comes to public safety.
“You can’t discard the aspect of the dog,” Taffe explained. “They are very visible. When it comes to high-visibility patrol, sometimes you can walk by 10 police officers and not notice them, you walk by one cop with a dog, and see the dog. And people remember that there was a police officer there.”
The patrolling pups are also a crime deterrent. And they are highly skilled in sniffing out bombs.
“The dogs are very specially trained and do a lot of good work,” Taffe said.
As if being trained in heavy-duty police work was not outstanding enough, there was something extra special about Tuesday’s graduation: All of the dogs were named after fallen officers, firefighters, and soldiers.
MTAPD Officer Joel Hernandez graduated from the program with his first-ever K-9 partner “Fam,” who was named after fallen NYPD Det. Miosotis Familia. The 12-year veteran of the department was fatally shot through the window of an NYPD mobile command vehicle on July 5, 2017, in the Bronx.
As for Fam the K-9, much like her human namesake, she is strong, brave and beautiful.
And Officer Hernandez said she is acclimating very well to her new job.
“She did great in her training,” he said. “She’s a good girl and she likes to cuddle.”
Familia’s daughter, Genesis Villella, who lives in Riverdale, was at the ceremony and watched with tears in her eyes as her mother’s legacy was honored.
“This means everything to me,” Villella said. “Having a K-9 named after her in her memory and heroism—it means everything.”
Another new K-9 at the ceremony was “Victor,” who graduated alongside his human partner, MTAPD Officer Joseph Aliberti.
Victor was named after NYPD Officer Victor Crespo who was killed in a tragic motor vehicle collision while off duty. Crespo’s brother Brian continues to serve in law enforcement as an MTAPD officer in District 2, as part of the ceremonial unit.
All of the graduates — both human and K-9 — will be deployed across the transit system, ready to provide protection and reassurance to commuters while taking a bite out of crime.
