The Daniel Wasson Memorial K-9 Award

~  Previous Award Recipients  ~

  All Give Some - Some Give All  

2006: Officer Matthew J. Lima  & K-9 "Judge" of Milford Police Department were selected for tracking down an escaped suicidal psychiatric patient which resulted in locating the suspect. They also had numerous hard surface tracking cases ranging from 1/2 to 1-1/2 miles in the city over hard surfaces resulting in the capture of individuals that committed burglaries and also tracked an a man who had committed sexual assault on a woman. Some of the tracks were high finds and many of these tracks involved  numerous fences, hard surfaces and onlookers but K9 "Judge" stayed focused on the job until completed.

2005: Officer Eric  Rocheleau & K-9 "Kora" of West Hartford Police Department were selected for being involved in numerous cases resulting in important captures and seizures of drugs. During a Feb. 2005 car stop, Kora detected 196 bags of heroin hidden in an engine compartment and four days later found 66 more bags on another car stop. In a span of about 5 weeks, Kora assisted in package searches seizing over 55 pounds of marijuana. All of the packages were filled with masking agents. In March, Officer Rocheleau and Kora assisted Avon PD conducting a 3+ mile track for a DUI suspect. In April, Kora tracked and assisted in the apprehension of a stolen car suspect who resisted arrest and fought with officers. During a burglary track in November, a cell phone was located on the track route resulting in the burglar's capture. In July of 2005, a pair of burglars were caught by this K9 team after tracking them from the scene to their location in a local cemetery still in possession of the stolen goods. Kora also assisted in a home invasion capture during a building search. In this case a successful "bark and hold" was done resulting in a capture without suspect injury. This K9 team's most important track involved a mutual aid call for a shooting in Hartford.  Both occupants of the car were shot with the passenger killed. The driver led Hartford PD on a high speed chase.  He then crashed and injured a family while fleeing.  He ran from the scene and was subsequently located. The track involved a difficult city track which included numerous fences, hard surfaces and onlookers.  Kora stayed focused even as she tracked within feet of tied up aggressive dogs. This focus paid off as the suspect was found hiding under a porch with 2 gun shot wounds to the chest.  These are just a few of this K9 team's successes in 2005 leading to their nomination for the Daniel Wasson Award.

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2004: Officer Morales & K-9 “Niko” of New London Police Department were selected for responding on July 2nd 2004, at approximately 2244 hours, to assist Norwich Police Department in locating a male suspect who had just committed a robbery and murdered his victim with a shot gun blast to the chest. K-9 Niko was deployed into an apartment where the suspect was believed to be hiding. K-9 Niko located the male hiding in a completely dark basement. The suspect surrendered to avoid a K-9 apprehension. K-9 Niko was recalled and the suspect later identified as the man responsible for the robbery homicide and was taken into custody without incident. Also during the past year K-9 Niko had many successful tracks and apprehensions along with finding a total of 28.9 grams of crack cocaine for the year 2004.

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2003:Officer Morales & K-9 “Niko” of New London Police Department were selected for responding to a robbery in progress by three suspects at approximately 1:00a.m. at a local bar. When they arrived the suspects had run into a wooded area where Niko had tracked the suspects and was shot by one of them with a 9 mm which passed completely through him missing all his vital organs, but still continued tracking them.  All three suspects were later apprehended. Niko recovered fully from his wound and faithfully still serves and protects his handler with the New London Police Dept.  

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2002:Sergeant David Dubiel & K-9 "Luke" of the West Hartford Police Department were selected for assisting the Connecticut State Police and East Hartford Police involving an exceptional two mile hard surface urban track across several highways and city streets, leading to the arrest of two men for evading a serious motor vehicle accident.  The team also tracked a subject who was taken at gunpoint following a report of shots fired, as well an apprehension of a fleeing suspect in a burglary in progress and apprehension of suspects in a stolen motor vehicle taken at gunpoint.  

2001:Officer Henry Minor and "Veko" of the Manchester Police Department were selected as a result of a particularly violent encounter with an offender, where both Officer Minor and "Veko" demonstrated unbelievable persistence, courage and bravery. On November 18, 2001 at approximately 3:00 p.m. Officer Henry Minor and his partner “Veko” responded to an armed robbery in progress at a Stop & Shop Supermarket. The suspect was handed $1,200 and fled in his vehicle. A roadblock was set up and when the suspect’s vehicle came to a stop in front of their patrol cars the suspect put his hands up as to surrender. When one of the officers approached the car, the suspect accelerated his vehicle forward aiming it at the officer. The officer was struck by the vehicle and was thrown onto the hood. The officer while on the hood fired two rounds at the suspect through the front windshield and was then thrown off the car onto the road sustaining a broken foot and other injuries. Another officer fired one round at the suspect through the driver’s side door. None of the rounds struck the suspect. Officer Minor made the decision to intentionally ram the suspect’s vehicle to avoid a vehicle pursuit causing the suspects vehicle to spin around and strike a utility pole. The suspect exited his car and began running. Officer Minor activated the remote controlled bailout system allowing K9 “Veko” to exit the cruiser and take down the suspect. Once “Veko” had him on the ground Officer Minor approached and the suspect fought with Officer Minor and K9 “Veko” had to re-engage and then the suspect was handcuffed. The $1,200 was recovered where K9 “Veko” knocked the suspect down. The suspect was charged with Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder, Robbery, Assault on a Police Officer and other criminal charges.

Also Officer Minor & “Veko” were called to assist in the apprehension and cover agents as they attempted to serve a parole violation of a Hartford gang member. The suspect, seeing K9 “Veko” surrendered without incident. The subject was suspect in the gang related shooting of 12 year old Takira Gaston in Hartford over the July 4th holiday. The suspect has since been charged in that incident.

2000:Officer Frank McDermott and K-9 "Hero", Hamden Police Department. Officer McDermott and K-9 Hero's outstanding achievements during 2000 included apprehensions of suspects wanted for; robbery, sexual assault, burglary, domestic assault, motor vehicle theft, felony narcotics possession, criminal mischief and weapons possession. The team also located several missing people including a suicidal person. They were also selected by their fellow Officer's as Hamden's Police Officer of the Year for 2000.

1999:Officer Gregory Williams and K-9 "Nero", New London Police Department.  Nero's efforts resulted in 13 felony apprehensions during his first year of service. In 1999 Nero engaged a subject and stayed engaged during an exchange of gunfire in which Officer Williams was shot in the forearm.

1998:Officer Gregory Williams and K-9 "Nero", New London Police Department.  Officer Williams and K9 "Nero" were selected for numerous felony apprehensions.

1997:Officer Alberto Higuera and K-9 "Erst", Newington Police Department.  Erst located and apprehended several dangerous felony suspects throughout the year and had multiple narcotic seizures resulting in arrests.

1996:Officer Jeffrey Angell and K-9 "Niko", Windsor Locks Police Department.  Niko tracked and located a suicidal female who had fled after taking an overdose of pills.

1995:Trooper Todd Lynch and K-9 "Uriah", Connecticut State Police. Uriah sustained multiple stab wounds during the tracking and apprehension of an armed felony suspect.  Uriah recovered from his injuries and returned to duty.

1994:Officer William Proulx and K-9 "Bruno", East Hartford Police Department.  Bruno distracted an armed assailant, allowing Officer Proulx to disarm the suspect, thus preventing the use of deadly force.

1993:Officer Raymond Humphrey and K-9 "Evo", East Windsor Police Department.  Evo located 29 persons in his first year of service.  He successfully conducted a search & recovery of a loaded shotgun abandoned in a school yard.

1992:Officer Bruce Bertram and K-9 "Falk", Danbury Police Department.  Falk sustained a serious gunshot wound to the neck while apprehending an armed felony suspect.  Falk recovered from his injuries and returned to duty