Trainers

Bill is the founder of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association. He is an accredited Master Trainer with the North American Police Work Dog Association. Bill served five terms as president of CPWDA, his last in 2010. Bill also served as state training coordinator for the North American Police Work Dog Association for five years.

Bill has been a police officer since 1978; he has been involved in training police service dogs since 1984; he served as a handler and unit coordinator for ten years. Bill was promoted to Sergeant in 1996 where he supervised, trained and maintained three police service dog teams. Approximately 25 dog teams were trained through the New London Police Department's canine training program.

Bill retired from the New London Police Department in 2007 and joined the Ledyard Police Department as a patrol officer, where he is currently employed.

Bill has instructed for the U.S.P.C.A., International Police Canine Conference and N.A.P.W.D.A. Bill has testified before the Connecticut House Judiciary Committee in favor of legislation that was enacted to protect police service animals. He has also testified in court and successfully defended his department in two criminal cases where the use of force was questioned as a result of K-9 deployments. Bill has served as a consultant and advisor to numerous police departments across the country on training, litigation and administrative issues.

Lieutenant William Scribner has been involved in the training of police service dogs for 35 years. He began his career as a professional dog trainer after completing a 6-month instructor's course in 1978 at a private canine training facility in Newtown, Connecticut. This facility, Canine Security, offered a comprehensive instructor's course covering all aspects of canine behavior including: obedience, behavior modification, personal protection, security work, police patrol, narcotic, and explosive detection. Upon completing the course Bill was hired on as a full time instructor, a position he held until 1985. In those 7 years Bill instructed, through group and private lessons, over 1600 dogs of almost every AKC recognized breed including K9 teams from municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies across the nation.

In 1986 Bill became a full time member of the New Milford, Connecticut Police Department and in 1991 attended a 400-hour Patrol and Narcotics Canine Handler's Course at the Alabama Canine Law Enforcement Officers Training Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. That same year Bill was instrumental in establishing New Milford Police Department's current K-9 Program. Also in 1991 he was one of the founding members of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. and held the Association's Vice-President position for 2 terms.

The North American Police Work Dog Association accredited Bill as a Police K-9 Trainer in the areas of patrol work and narcotics in 1993. Since that time, with the assistance of several other talented K-9 Trainers, Bill has remained very active selecting, testing, and training over 60 additional canine teams from across the state in patrol, narcotic detection and explosive detection.

In October of 2000 Bill received accreditation from NAPWDA as a Master Trainer in the areas of Patrol and Narcotics Detection. In November of 2006 Bill received accreditation from NAPWDA as a Master Trainer in the area of Explosive Detection. As one of 65 accredited Master Trainers in the U.S. Bill can act as an examiner testing and certifying Police Service Dog Teams.

Bill has extensive experience in the area of canine competition: handling German Shorthaired Pointers in field trials, competing with German Shepherd Dogs, Chinese Sharpei's, and Bouviers des Flandres in AKC and UKC confirmation shows, and titling 2 different dogs, a German Shepherd and a German Shorthaired Pointer in AKC. obedience trials. He was one of the original members of the Connecticut Working Dog Association and a founding member of the Housatonic Police and Schutzhund Association, both are schutzhund clubs within the state. While training with these schutzhund clubs Bill has trained, handled, and competed with 4 different dogs, both German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois', in the various levels of schutzhund, IPO, DPO, and WPO For three consecutive years, 1992, 1993, and 1994, Bill and his police K-9 dog Yerry von Seigesburg ("Kato") were selected as 1 of the top 5 K-9 teams in the nation to travel to Europe and represent the United States at the International Deutsche Meisterschaft fur Deinst hundesfurers, the World Police Dog Championship held each year in Germany.

Bill's current philosophy and training program is a culmination of 35 years of canine experience gained by attending countless schools, seminars, and workshops and the knowledge gleaned from working under some of the top civilian and police canine trainers in this ever evolving field. Lt. Scribner has been a member of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association since 1991.

Sergeant Michael Ravenelle has been a Police Officer with the Ledyard Police Department since 1989. In 1991, under the guidance of Bill Nott from the New London Police Department, Mike started the Ledyard Police K-9 Unit with his partner, "Max". Due to the team's success, the canine unit in Ledyard has since grown to three teams. Mike and Max graduated from the Connecticut State Police 52nd Canine Training Troop in 1993, where they received the award for Best Evidence Team. The pair has also been trained in utility and narcotic detection under the standards of the North American Police Work Dog Association. In the past nine years, Mike and Max have worked together, handling all types of calls from missing persons to homicides and as a result, have enjoyed much success. Mike served as the NAPWDA State Coordinator from 1997 - 2000. In 1997, Mike became an accredited trainer in the areas of patrol and narcotic detection with the North American Police Work Dog Association. Since that time, he has trained several teams in both patrol and narcotic detection. Mike has assisted as a trainer at NAPWDA seminars and assisted as a decoy for the International Police K-9 Conference held in Orlando, Florida and New London, Connecticut. He currently holds weekly in-service training for Police K-9 teams from both Connecticut and Rhode Island. Sgt. Ravenelle has been a member of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association since 1992.

Officer Frank Holland was elected Secretary of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association in March of 2000, after serving a term as President of the association. He has been a Police Officer with the Norwalk Police Department since 1989. Frank became a member of the canine unit in 1991 with his first partner "Ajax". The two shared many accolades from their productive career together. They received back to back awards in 1993 and 1994 for suspect apprehensions from the German Shepherd Dog Club of Greater New Haven. They were two time runner ups for the Daniel Wasson Memorial Award in 1994 and 1995. They also received a Courage of Connecticut Award in 1995. "Ajax" was retired in 1996, and Frank became partners with "Nico," a 1 1/2 year old Belgian Malinois that Frank raised from a puppy. Tragically, Frank lost "Nico" in 1997 from complications of an injury he sustained while on duty. In 1998 Frank hit the streets with his new partner "Nick" another Belgian Malinois. It was also in 1998 that Frank became an accredited instructor of police service dogs in the area's of patrol and narcotic detection with the North American Police Work Dog Association. Since that time, Frank has taught many basic training classes and provides in-service training for other agencies throughout Connecticut. Frank continues to provide tireless dedication to the citizens of Norwalk, and believe that educating the public should be the number one priority of all police service dog teams. Officer Holland was a member of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association from 1994 - 2003.

Officer Frank McDermott was elected President of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association in March of 2000. He has been a Police Officer with the Hamden Police Department since 1993 and a CPWDA member since 1995. Frank began his career as a Patrol Officer and was later transferred to the Traffic Division's motorcycle unit. Prior to initial training with his partner "Hero", he was a member of the Connecticut Working Dog Association. There he trained with several prominent police K-9 and schutzhund trainers from Connecticut. In 1995 he submitted a K-9 unit proposal to his superiors and in 1997 he was chosen along with his K-9 partner "Hero" as one of the department's first K-9 teams. Later that year, the team was selected for the department's Special Response Team. Frank selected his partner "Hero" from Global K-9 in Wallkill New York. The two attended the Connecticut State Police K-9 Academy in 1997 and upon graduation on June 6th, 1997 they were chosen as the best team in both tracking and building searches. In 1998 the team attended a six week narcotics school with NAPWDA Trainer, William Scribner. They successfully achieved NAPWDA and CPWDA certification in the areas of Narcotics Detection and Patrol. Since that time Frank & Hero have enjoyed great success in both areas. Frank currently conducts monthly in-service K-9 training for his and other local police departments. Officer McDermott and his K9 partner "Hero" were the recipients of the prestigious Daniel Wasson Memorial Canine Award in 2000 and the runner - ups in 1999 and 1998. Lt. McDermott has been a member of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association since 1995.

Detective James Dickey has been a Police Officer since 1989 and member of the Waterbury Police Department since 1994. He has been involved in Police K-9 since 1997. Detective Dickey was elected as vice president of the CPWDA in 2009. In November 2001 he was certified as a Utility (Patrol) and Narcotics K-9 Trainer by the North American Police Work Dog Association. Currently he serves with K-9 Bella, who is certified in narcotic detection. Detective Dickey has been a member of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association since 1997.

Sgt. Frank Reda is an active 23 year law enforcement veteran who currently serves as the commanding Officer and trainer of his departments K9 Unit and has been an active K9 handler for over 21 years, Frank began working, breeding and training dogs since 1986, where he began competing in working events and achieved six Tri States champions with 4 different dogs with one titling as a National champion. His love for training working breeds translated into his police career which began in 1993, he is currently handling his third Dual purpose patrol and narcotics detection K9 and a single purpose Explosive detection K9. Sgt. Reda has been a member of the Connecticut Police Work Dog association since 1998. Below is a partial list of accomplishments:

National Police Canine Association certifying official and trainer in Patrol, Tracking , Narcotics and Explosive Detection

POST (police officer standards training) MOI instructor in K9 applications and use of force

Joint Task Force 6 Counter Drug School sponsored by 341st Training Squadron Lackland AFB

For information on training courses and seminars for Law Enforcement / special teams or select private clients,

Officer Dan Lane has been a member of the Waterford Police Department since 2000 and a K9 handler since 2001. Dan has handled two K9's to date, K9 Czar from 2001 to 2003 and K9 Blitz from 2003 to 2010. Dan and K9 Blitz were acknowledged as "runner up" for the Daniel Wasson Memorial Award in 2003 and 2004 and have assisted numerous local agencies in both criminal and narcotics arrests. In June 2009 Dan became an accredited trainer with the North American Police Work Dog Association in the areas of patrol and narcotics. He has trained or assisted in the training of K9's from both Connecticut and Rhode Island. Dan has attended seminars throughout the east coast both as a trainer and decoy. Dan currently holds in service training for teams in Southeastern Connecticut and Rhode Island. He is currently the State Coordinator for Connecticut with the North American Police Work Dog Association. Officer Dan Lane has been a member of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association since 2001.

Sergeant James Antonelli has been involved in law enforcement since 1994 and has been a K-9 handler since 2001. Sergeant Antonelli became involved in police K-9 while working for the New Milford Police Department and handled two K-9's for the agency. In 2004 he transferred to the Danbury Police Department where he became actively involved in the K-9 Unit handling K-9 Britta for the agency. He is a Lock- Up Police Combat Instructor and a Field Training Officer. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and in December of 2009 was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. In his career at both the Danbury Police Department as well as the New Milford Police Department he has received numerous departmental citations and commendations. Currently he coordinates monthly in-service training for Region 4, which includes K9 handlers throughout Fairfield and Litchfield Counties. Sgt. Antonelli has been a member of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association since 2001.

Officer Peter Osowiecki has been a member of the Suffield Police Department since 1984 and is working with his second canine since 2004. Officer Osowiecki is currently a CPWDA Narcotics Trainer and also currently in the process of becoming a North American Police Work Dog Association Narcotics Trainer. Officer Osowiecki has been a member of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association since 2004.

Officer Jason Venditto and K9 Titan of the Hamden Police Department are certified in Patrol and Explosive. Officer Venditto has been a member of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association since 2005.

Police Chief Paul M Hussey has been with the Willimantic Police department since 1996 and climbed the ranks to Police Chief. He was a K-9 handler for the department from 2005 to 2016. Paul became a Connecticut Police Work Dog Trainer in 2010, a North American Police Work Dog Trainer in 2012 and a National Narcotic Detector Dog certifying Official in 2018. Additionally, Paul is a post certified instructor in the following areas: K-9 teams, Firearms, Patrol Rifle, Building Search, and the Use of Force. Paul served as a member of the Willimantic Police Department’s Special Operations Unit from 2001 and is the unit Commander. Paul was former C.P.W.D.A. Vice – President Eastern Region in 2015 and was the 2016 winner of the C.P.W.D.A. Detection Award. Paul is also a life time member of Connecticut Police Work Dog Association and has been a member since 2006.

Officer Johnson and K9 Dibbs of the Manchester Police Department competed in the World Police & Fire Games held in New York in 2011 and came in first place with box searches and third place in overall patrol. Officer Johnson has been a member of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association since 2007.

Sgt. Seth O'Brien's exposure to working dogs began in 2004, under the direction of civilian breeder and trainer, Erich Grasso. In 2009, he and fellow handler, Officer David Dogali, were tasked with re-implementing the City of Stamford Police Department's K9 Unit after a 25 year absence. Since 2010, Sgt. O'Brien has been involved with training Police Service Dogs throughout the state. He has handled and retired two police K9’s and currently serves as the Stamford PD K9 Unit Supervisor and Trainer. He is also a Certifying Official for the National Police Canine Association (NPCA). The Stamford PD K9 Unit, in conjunction with GrassoShepherds, raises and trains prospective police dogs and conducts all police K9 training of those selected. Sgt. O'Brien believes that through individualized and realistic, scenario based training, K9 handlers will be better prepared for street deployment. He has been a member of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association since 2009.

Officer Shawn Lisee has been a member of the Groton Police Department since 2006 and was assigned to K9 Unit as a K9 handler since 2009. Shawn has handled two K9's for the Groton Police Department, K9 Nico from 2009 to 2016 and K9 Ace from 2016 to the present. Shawn and K9 Ace were acknowledged as "1^st runner up" for the Daniel Wasson Memorial Award in 2018. In June 2019, Shawn became an accredited trainer with the North American Police Work Dog Association in the areas of patrol and narcotics. Shawn is currently the lead trainer for the Southeastern C.P.W.D.A. training group, offering bi weekly in-service training for K9 teams from Southeastern Connecticut and Rhode Island. Shawn has been a member of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association since 2010.

I am currently the K9 training Sergeant for the MTA Police Dept. The MTA Police K-9 Unit currently has 47 canines working the Transit system. I am also responsible for the training and maintenance training of numerous other department canines including: Orange County Sheriff's Explosive canines; City of Middletown, New York; Town of New Windsor, New York; and NYPD Transit Canine.

My first assignment working with K-9's began in 1989 when I attended the Metro-North Police K-9 Academy in Croton on the Hudson, New York. My first Partner was a Black & Tan German Shepherd named Rocky. Rocky was later killed in the line of Duty. I acquired my next partner, "Hoagie" another Black & Tan GS and we attended the Orange County Sheriff's Canine Training Academy. In 1996, I was promoted to Sergeant and was assigned to Patrol and I had to retire my Canine during that time. Not too long after, our new Chief did away with the Metro-North Canine Unit.

In 1998, the MTA combined the Metro-North Police and the Long Island Railroad Police Departments to form the MTA Police. In 2001, I was promoted to Detective Sergeant. After 9-11, the MTA started The MTA Police K-9 Unit and I was asked to head the Unit. I accepted and I attended the NYSP Canine Academy in Cooperstown, New York with my new canine partner "Baron". The MTA also had four other handlers attending this Academy. I spent twenty-six weeks there training in Patrol and Explosives. I then attended another NYSP academy to become an assistant trainer. The MTA had another six handlers also attend that academy. I then assisted at the New York-New Jersey Port Authority Canine Academy where the MTA had one handler in attendance. This academy was a narcotics and explosive academy.

In 2004, I was the assistant Trainer in Patrol at the Orange County Sheriff's Office Canine Academy. I was also the lead trainer for explosives academy. I have been Co-trainer ever since working hand and hand with the Orange County Sheriff's K-9 trainer. I have been training at the Orange County Sheriff's Canine Academy since 2004 and have been consistently training classes anywhere from two to three and sometimes four times a year with some classes overlapping others. Together with OCSO K-9, we have trained approximately 60 to 70 teams. I am a member of Numerous K-9 associations such as the CPWDA, NAPWDA and USPCA. I am also a member of the IABTI. I have been involved in training canines on and off the job for approximately 20 years and there is no part of Policing I like more. At this time, the MTA Police is currently in the process of acquiring our own Training Facility. Sgt. Funicane has been a member of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association since 2010,

Kyle McCraith has been an Albany, NY Police Officer since 1993 and a K9 handler since 1998. He’s handled three duel purpose dogs, a patrol/narcotics dog and currently his second patrol/explosives dog. He organizes and sponsors quarterly Regional K9 Training in the Albany area and provides maintenance training for several area teams. Kyle is a New York State Dept of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) General Topics Instructor, K9 Maintenance Trainer and K9 Examiner. He is a member of USPCA Region 7, CPWDA Utility and Explosives Trainer and applicant for NAPWDA Trainer. Officer McCraith has been a CPWDA member since 2010. Kyle can be reached at kmccraith@albany-ny.org .

Officer Anthony Lucca has been employed by the Rhode Island Department of Corrections since 1997. He has been a K-9 handler for the department since 2003 and has handled 3 dual narcotic/patrol canines to date. He is a member of several K-9 associations including Rhode Island Police Work Dog Association, Connecticut Police Work Dog Association, and the North American Police Work Dog Association. Anthony was accredited as a trainer for the North American Police Work Association in 2015, and has attended and assisted as a trainer and decoy at numerous seminars and workshops across the country including RI, CT, MA, PA, NY, GA, SC, TX, and TN. Officer Lucca was accredited as a N.A.P.W.D.A. Master Trainer in 2018. Officer Lucca has been a CPWDA member since 2013.

Patrol Dog Instructor - Tactical Instructor - Tracking - Chemical Munitions - Narcotics

Bob Eden has been a police officer since 1981 working with the Delta Police Department in British Columbia, Canada. Initially assigned to patrol and then traffic section, became a member of the dog section in 1983. He is the author of two books, "Dog Training For Law Enforcement" and "K9 Officers Manual" and has been involved in the development of a number of video productions for law enforcement K9 training. In 1988 Bob was appointed to the B.C. Police Commission's committee to create minimum police dog training standards for law enforcement agencies in the province of British Columbia. He was also appointed by the World Police & Fire Games Committee of California to coordinate the competition site for the World Police & Fire Games Police Dog Championships, held in Vancouver, BC in 1989. In 1991 he created and developed the International Police K9 Conference in an attempt to bring a professional training seminar to officers which was not politically oriented or specific to any particular style of training. The intent was to support all officers in methods which meet their specific needs. Bob has also authored articles and columns in such periodicals as "Police Magazine", "Law and Order", "Police and Security News", "Finland's Rottweiler Magazine", "The Police K9 Recruiter" and "Offlead Magazine" from Australia. In 1994 he created the "The Police Dog Home Page" on the Internet at http://www.policek9.com which as become the largest and most diversified page on the net on law enforcement K9 operations. Bob held a a Hard Surface and Urban Tracking school for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association K-9 teams in 1997 and gave class room instructions at the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Police Department located on the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Reservation. Bob also held the National Police Canine Conference in 2002 and 2003 in New London, Connecticut for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association K-9 teams.

Patrol Dog Instructor - Cobleskill, NY - Tracking - Tactical Instructor - Animal Science Dr. Mackenzie has been training and working police service dogs for over 20 years. He is a part time Deputy with the Schoharie County Sheriff's Department in upstate New York, serving as a K-9 handler Trainer. He is a Trainer/Examiner of police dog teams for the state of New York, an Examiner of police work dog teams for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association, and a Master Trainer with the North American Police Work Dog Association. He originated the K-9 column in Police: The Law Officer's Magazine and served as a Contributing Editor on police dogs for Dog Sports Magazine before writing Decoys and Aggression: A Police K-9 Training Manual. He is also the author of Aggression Control Teaching the "OUT". An animal behaviorist, he holds a doctorate in the genetics of animal behavior from Cornell University and is presently a Professor of Animal Science for the State University of New York in Cobleskill. He has given numerous decoy workshops for police officers and has appeared on "American's Most Wanted," the BBC's "Antenna" Science Series and has been consulted by National Geographic Television regarding canine behavior. A regular instructor for the International Police K9 Conference, he has also lectured at the national training seminar of the United States Police Canine Association and the National Police Bloodhound Association. As an animal behaviorist, Dr. Mackenzie has given expert testimony in both civil and criminal court regarding canine behavior. Steve has certified numerous Connecticut Police Work Dog Association teams through out the years. Steve instructed at a Hard Surface and Urban Tracking school for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association K-9 teams in 1997 and gave class room instructions at the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Police Department located on the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Reservation. Steve also was an instructor at the National Police Canine Conference in 2002 and 2003 in New London, Connecticut for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association. Steve also held decoy seminars for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association in 1997,1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2009 & 2012.

Bob is presently the Superintendent in charge of Emergency & Investigative Services with the Niagara Regional Police Service in Ontario, Canada. Bob has provided expertise worldwide during his numerous years as a Canine Handler, Trainer and Canine Unit Supervisor. Additionally, Bob's experiences as a Tactical Team member and as the Emergency Task Unit Commander have allowed him a great understanding of the needs of both Canine and Tactical Teams. Bob is a qualified expert witness and has authored numerous articles on the use of Police Service Dogs and Tactics. Bob has a Masters Degree from Guelph University, an undergraduate Degree from Brock University and a Diploma in Police Management from the University of Western Ontario. At the International K9 Conference Bob teaches Tactics, Problem Solving, Officer Safety, Firearms, Tracking, Explosive Detection and Hander Selection and Supervision for the Administrators.