“K-9 Echo” of the Beacon Falls Police Department Receives a New Ride!

The Hometown Foundation, Inc., in conjunction with several local businesses, revamps a K-9 equipped police vehicle for “K-9 Echo” of the Beacon Falls Police Department in Connecticut.

Cheshire, CT – This story starts and ends with the spirit of giving. It begins with Officer Celeste Robitaille and her donation of K-9 Echo to the Beacon Falls Police Department. After Officer Robitaille retired from Stratford PD, she began working for Beacon Falls PD. She discovered that a Search and Rescue K-9 team would be extremely beneficial to the Town of Beacon Falls. Officer Robitaille met with First Selectman Gerry Smith and BFPD Corporal Jason Piccirillo to propose K-9 Echo’s services at no cost to the Town. The idea of Beacon Falls first SAR K9 unit was embraced completely by the administration. Officer Robitaille and K-9 Echo are trained and certified in Human Remains Crime Scene and Water and Wilderness Search and are a part of Resources in Search and Rescue, Inc. (RSAR), which is an allvolunteer K-9 search and rescue team led by Officer Robitaille based in Monroe, CT.

Most of the equipment for K-9 Echo had been donated but one of the biggest expenses on that list was a K-9 equipped police vehicle. Officer Robitaille reached out to The Hometown Foundation, Inc. for help with the process, while simultaneously working with other connections. She was able to strike up a deal and purchase a 2014 Ford Explorer from Ashland, MA Police Department for a nominal fee. This was just the start of a four-month journey to get this vehicle workable. The vehicle had been sitting for a while, was in rough shape, and had some outdated/incompatible equipment. After hearing the story of K-9 Echo and witnessing the tenacity and selflessness of Officer Robitaille, the Foundation stepped in to help see this project to the end.

The Foundation transported the vehicle to its parent company Bozzuto’s, Inc. in Cheshire and started a deep cleaning process. The next step was to get the vehicle wrapped with new graphics and Sign Pro Inc. of Plantsville immediately agreed to help. Finding the necessary equipment and lights for an older vehicle was a process, but Telrepco of Wallingford and Patriot Fleet Group LLC of Rocky Hill were able to deliver. All this equipment needed to be installed and we knew to reach out to a longtime Foundation supporter, NorcomCT of Naugatuck, to finish the job. Collectively, in-kind, and monetary donations totaled more than $8,000.

These stories of community and local businesses coming together to support a neighbor in need are the epitome of the Hometown Foundation’s mission. It starts and ends with community and The Hometown Foundation is so thankful to be a part of this journey with Ashland PD, Beacon Falls PD, NorcomCT, Patriot Fleet Group LLC, Sign Pro Inc. and Telrepco.The Hometown Foundation, Inc. 275 Schoolhouse Road, Cheshire, CT 06410 info@hometownfoundation.org 203.250.5661Please join us for a vehicle presentation on Friday, December 8 from 11:30 a.m. to noon at the Beacon Falls Police Department located at 119 N Main St, Beacon Falls, CT 06403.

The Hometown Foundation, Inc. is committed to equipping law enforcement agencies with Police K-9 Units to ensure they are serving their communities positively and impartially. Our team understands the value of Police K-9s and our mission is to educate others on the invaluable assets that they offer to law enforcement agencies. The Hometown Foundation takes pride in supporting those around them and creating relationships. When a community is in need, we step up and make change happen.