These annual awards are chosen from line of duty deployments submitted by Connecticut police canine teams that exemplify the highest tradition of police canine law enforcement.  The award plaque honoring Officer Daniel Wasson and the winners of this prestigious award, hangs proudly in the lobby of the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden, Connecticut.

The Daniel Wasson Memorial K-9 Award Nomination Committee for the year 2010 consisted of President of the CPWDA and Master Trainer, Bill Nott of the Ledyard Police Department, Master Trainer, Sergeant Bill Scribner of the New Milford Police Department and Master Trainer Mike Ravenelle of the Ledyard Police Department who selected the award recipient and two honorable mention recipients from nominations received throughout our state.

This year the selection committee has unanimously selected Officer Frank J. Reda and his K-9 Partner "Kahn", of the Norwalk Police Department, as the recipient of the 2010 Daniel Wasson Memorial K-9 Award. This year's honorable mention recipients are: First runner up, Officer Daniel T. Gagnon and his K-9 Partner "Ringo" of the Ledyard Police Department and second runner up is Officer Jason M. Venditto and his K-9 Partner "Titan" of the Hamden  Police Department.

First Runner Up

Officer Daniel T. Gagnon & K-9 Partner "Ringo"

Ledyard Police Department

    On Tuesday August 10^th, 2010 CSP-E dispatch put out over the airwaves that the Stonington Police were reporting an armed robbery of a convenience store in which a knife was displayed and money was taken. A description of the suspect was given along with the vehicle described as a Chevy Avalanche type vehicle displaying Vermont registration BLP758.

    At approximately 2240hrs CSP-E dispatch reported that the Groton Town Police had located and were now in pursuit of that vehicle and that they were traveling northbound on Rte 12 towards Gales Ferry. I began traveling southbound hoping to intercept the oncoming pursuit. CSP-E advised that the vehicle had now crashed on Rte 12 by Crystal lake road in the area of the US SubBase.

    As I arrived on scene I saw the Groton Town Police at the woodline yelling to come on out. When I arrived on scene   the suspect was just inside the woodline, behind heavy brush, laying down. The weapon had not been recovered.  K9 Ringo was taken from my vehicle and made an announcement to come on out or that he would be released. After no response I gave K9 Ringo his command to find him. K9 Ringo entered the woods traveling eastbound where I lost sight of him. Myself and Officer McCarthy entered the woods where I saw K9 Ringo working ground scent still traveling eastbound. I followed behind and saw K9 Ringo stop at a white, freshly discarded T-Shirt and I gave him the command to down. I went up to him, leashed him up and gave him his find him command again. K9 Ringo tracked up an embankment to Crystal Lake Road, where we came upon Officer Lisee who was on a perimeter post.

    Officer Lisee stated he had heard a door slam shut at an abandoned house just up the road from us. K9 Ringo continued his track eastbound and up a flight of wooden stairs to the front door of the abandoned house where he lifted his head indicating that the ground scent was no longer present and that he was attempting to find that odor again. I stated to Officer McCarthy that I believed the suspect may be inside the house and as we tried the door it was found to be locked. The door was breached and an announcement was again given to come out or K9 Ringo would be sent in. After a reasonable amount of time K9 Ringo was given his command to search which is “find him”. After methodically searching for approximately 1 minute K9 Ringo alerted to a shower stall inside a bathroom by barking and scratching. I called K9 Ringo back to me and yelled for the suspect to come out with no response. After several warnings I approached the stall and opened it where I then observed a  male seated, with his hands not visible and non compliant. At this time fearing that the suspect still was in possession of the knife and that he was trying to lure us in to do harm I gave K9 Ringo his command to apprehend the suspect which is “ get him “. K9 Ringo engaged the suspect on the head then as Groton Town officer flooded the room he re-engaged on the shoulder / neck area. Once the suspect was proned out by Groton Town officers I leashed up K9 Ringo and kept him at a safe distance for the suspect as well as officers.     

Second Runner Up

Officer Jason M. Venditto & K-9 Partner "Titan"

Hamden Police Department

On March 2, 2010 at 0336 hours Hamden Police units responded to the area of State St and Ridge Rd. in Hamden on a report of a carjacking.  The victim who is a Metro Taxi driver stated an unknown male approached his taxi and punched him in the face and forcefully ripped him out of his vehicle.  The victim stated the unknown male continued to beat on him outside the vehicle.  After he was beaten outside his vehicle the male then stole his taxi and drove off.  Approximately 45 minutes later New Haven Police found the stolen taxi on Winthrop Ave in their city.  Officer Venditto and K-9 “Titan” responded to the area of 207 Winthrop Ave in New Haven to attempt a track from the abandoned Metro Taxi.  Upon his arrival Officer Venditto and K-9 “Titan” attempted a track from the taxi cab in an attempt to locate the carjacking suspect.  K-9 “Titan” was cast off the front seat of the taxi and immediately picked up a scent trail and began tracking strong northbound on Winthrop Ave along the sidewalk.  K-9 “Titan” continued tracking strong over several city streets eventually coming out to Sherman Parkway which is a busy city street in New Haven.  K-9 “Titan” continued tracking strong north bound on Sherman Parkway for several blocks eventually tracking down a driveway of 110 Sherman Parkway.  K-9 “Titan” tracked to the rear parking lot behind the residence and began circling a purple, Dodge Caravan with dark tinted windows which was parked in the rear lot.  K-9 “Titan” then put his nose to the rear sliding door and began inhaling strong indicating someone was inside the vehicle.  At this time Officer Venditto could not see inside the vehicle due to the dark tinted windows.  Officer Venditto then put his flashlight against the window and was able to see a male lying down on the back seat attempting to hide.  Officer Venditto and his backup officers then ordered the suspect out of the vehicle.  The suspect then appeared in the window but was refusing to get out.  Officer Venditto then announced he was going to send his K-9 in if he continued to refuse their orders.  The suspect then surrendered and was pulled out of the vehicle and detained.  A short time later the victim of the carjacking responded to the scene and positively identified the suspect as the person who had just assaulted him and stole his cab.  The suspect was charged with carjacking, Larceny 2^nd and assault.

Officer Venditto and K-9 “Titan” displayed outstanding ability in tracking due the fact the track was through several city streets  and the entire track was on hard surface.  Without their successful track the suspect would probably never been identified and apprehended.

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On February 22, 2010 at 0347 hours Officer Venditto and K-9 “Titan” responded to the area of 27 Middle Rd.  in Hamden on a report of two males breaking into vehicles.  It should be noted Hamden was having a rash of vehicle break-ins with numerous thefts  occurring.  Upon arrival the complainant advised Officer Venditto that the two suspects ran off in an unknown direction.  Officer Venditto and K-9 “Titan” then attempted a track of the two suspects.  K-9 “Titan” was cast in the area where the suspects were last seen and immediately picked up a scent trail and began tracking strong south bound on Middle Rd.  K-9 “Titan” continued tracking strong throughout the neighborhood across several streets and residential yards.  K-9 “Titan” then located one suspect crouched on the ground behind some bushes in front of a house.  Officer Venditto then ordered the suspect to show hi s hands and come out several times but the suspect continued to ignore his orders.  Fearing the suspect may be armed Officer Venditto deployed K-9 Titan.  K-9 “Titan” engaged the suspect biting him on the right lower leg area.  The suspect then gave up and was taken into custody. 

Immediately after the first suspect was taken into custody Hamden dispatch advised Officer Venditto that they just received a call that the second suspect was trying to break into a vehicle at 1795 Whitney Ave. which is approximately two blocks away.  Officer Venditto then responded  there and was advised by the complainant the suspect fled on foot.  Officer Venditto and K-9 “Titan” then attempted a track for the second suspect.  K-9 “Titan” was cast in the area and immediately picked up a scent trail and began tracking strong on Whitney Ave.  K-9 “Titan” continued tracking strong for several blocks throughout a residential neighborhood never coming off the track.  The track consisted of mainly hard surface and spanned approximately one mile.  K-9 “Titan” eventually track directly to the second suspect who was hiding behind a garage on Thornton St.  in Hamden.  The suspect gave up when K-9 “Titan” located him and numerous stolen items and burglary tools were recovered from the suspect.   Both suspects were charged with numerous burglary offenses.

It should be noted approximately seven months later on 9/15/10 Officer Venditto and K-9 “Titan” had responded to Cheshire CT. after Cheshire Police requested K-9 assistance.   Cheshire Police had a rash of vehicle break-ins over the past couple months and on this night a homeowner had interrupted an individual breaking into his vehicle and run off.  Officer Venditto and K-9 Titan conducted a lengthy track for the suspect and located him hiding under a rear porch of a home.  The suspect was identified as the same suspect Officer Venditto and K-9 “Titan” had apprehended seven months earlier on Thornton St. in Hamden for the same crime.

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On May 19, 2010 Hamden Police units were involved in a motor vehicle pursuit with a suspected burglary suspect in the south end of town.  The lengthy pursuit came to an end when the suspect’s vehicle intentionally rammed a Hamden Police cruiser at the intersection of Newhall St. and Morse St.  The suspect then exited his vehicle and attacked two Hamden Police officers.  The suspect was continually punching the two officers as they all fell to the ground.  The suspect was then able to break free from the officers fleeing on foot getting away.  Several Hamden Police officers attempted to locate the suspect with negative results. 

Officer Venditto and K-9 “Titan” were then called in from home to assist in locating the suspect.  Officer Venditto and K-9 “Titan” arrived on scene approximately one hour after the incident originally occurred.  Officer Venditto and K-9 “Titan” then attempted a track from the suspect’s vehicle.  K-9 “Titan” was cast off the front seat of the suspect’s vehicle and immediately picked up a scent trail and began tracking strong east bound on Morse St.  K-9 “Titan” continued tracking strong through several residential yards.  Officer Venditto and K-9 “Titan” had to track over numerous chain linked and stockade fences that surrounded all the yards.  K-9 “Titan” eventually tracked into the rear yard of 25 Marlboro St. and continued to track strong into a temporary tarp covered car port in the rear of the residence.  Once in the car port K-9 “Titan” began aggressively jumping on the side of a vehicle which was parked in the car port indicating the suspect was inside the vehicle.  Officer Venditto could not see inside the vehicle because the windows were all fogged up.  K-9 “titan” continued to jump on the vehicle as Officer Venditto was able to shine his flashlight through the rear window.  Officer Venditto then observed the suspect lying on the back seat of the vehicle.  Officer Venditto then opened the front door of the vehicle and ordered the suspect several times to show his hands and exit the vehicle.  The suspect ignored all commands to exit the vehicle and continued to lye motionless on the rear seat with his hands under his body.  At this point Officer Venditto feared the suspect may be armed with a weapon and released K-9 “Titan” into the vehicle.  K-9 “Titan” entered the front of the vehicle and jumped into the back seat engaging the suspect, biting him on the left arm and shoulder area.  K-9 “Titan” was able to pull the suspect out of the vehicle allowing responding units to gain control of the suspect and take him into custody.    The suspect was then charged with Burglary, assault on a police officer, interfering, and numerous motor vehicle charges.

Without Officer Venditto and K-9 “Titan’s” commitment to a difficult track the suspect would never been identified and apprehended.