GORHAM, Maine — The Gorham Police Department is welcoming its newest member of the department's rebooted K-9 Team: K-9 Storm, a one-and-a-half-year-old Belgian Malinois.
According to a news release issued by the department's Chief of Police Christopher Sanborn on Monday, K-9 Storm and Officer Aaron Erickson, the pup's handler, will be working towards getting Storm certified in "suspect apprehension, tracking, and drug detection."
The release also said Storm will be an "invaluable community policing tool."
"I lucked out getting him 'cause he doesn't bark in the car. Really doesn't bark at home. If he doesn't see me for thirty seconds, he'll start barking at home. That's just the bond that we have. That we got pretty quickly," Erickson said.
The K-9 handler explained that having a K-9 is more than a full-time job. Storm goes home with the officer. They live, work, and protect each other all day, every day.
The Gorham Police Department was without a K9 Team since June of 2021, but a $2.7K grant helped make the team possible again, the release reports.
"We are very excited to resume this program with a new team and provide this valuable resource to the Gorham Police Department and the community we serve," the release said.
Erin Smith of Warren, Maine, shared this picture on Near Me of her dog reacting to the story about Gorham K-9 Storm.
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