Johnston Police Department welcomes new K-9 unit

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — A K-9 unit has been added to the Johnston Police Department for the first time in over a decade with a one-year-old Czech Republic German Shepherd serving as its foundation.

K-9 Honza and his handler Officer Eli McGuire-Krueger officially mark this addition to the department after the pair completed an intensive eight-week training at the Rhode Island K-9 Academy.

The partners specialized in narcotics detection at the academy after McGuire-Krueger underwent a competitive internal selection process.

The addition of the K-9 unit was made through opioid litigation funds from the Opioid Abatement Trust.

Honza will undergo further patrol training in the fall to the areas of dangerous or hidden offender apprehension, missing persons location and recovery of criminal evidence.