SOUTHWICK – Police Chief David Ricardi announced on Monday night that Officer Michael Westcott has been selected as the new K-9 handler.
Previously, Sgt. Tom Krutka was the K-9 handler for 10 years alongside K-9 Jax, who is now living out his retirement with Krutka as his owner.
Once it was announced in June that Krutka would be promoted to patrol sergeant, Ricardi had to immediately search for Krutka’s replacement.
Southwick Police officer Michael Westcott has been selected as the new K-9 handler for the police department. (Photo courtesy of Southwick Police Department)
Observing Westcott since he was an intern at the Southwick Police Department, Ricardi could see Westcott’s passion for the K-9 unit. According to Ricardi, Westcott would volunteer his time with the K-9 program by helping out on demonstrations with the dog among other tasks.
“He seemed to always gravitate to an interest on the K-9 handling program,” said Ricardi. “It takes a special person, you have to really have a desire.”
When Westcott found out on Monday that he had been chosen, he couldn’t have been more excited.
“I’ve always liked watching the k-9 unit as a kid,” said Westcott. “Working with dogs is a real nice avenue to go down.”
Moving forward, in the next couple of weeks, Westcott will be joining Master Trainer, Capt. Dwane Foisy of the Berkshire County’s Sheriff’s Department, to Shallow Creek Kennels in Pennsylvania. At the kennel, Westcott will be working with groups of dogs in order to make a selection for a new K-9 for the department.
Then in late August, Westcott will be attending a K-9 training program that will last eight to twelve weeks. Along with the new K-9, Westcott will go through an extensive obedience program and then once the K-9 team earns their first certification, they will go to a four week narcotic detection certification program.
After Westcott is fully certified to be the K-9 handler, he’ll be ready to work with his new K-9 partner.
“I can’t wait to get him working,” said Westcott.
Before taking this position, Westcott was a full-time patrol officer on the department since 2009. Some of his responsibilities included being in charge of all medical training in the department and also a member of the dive team.
