By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – City Councilors welcomed the newest police “officer” in the Marlborough? Department – K9 ?”Kaiser” – who was escorted into council chambers Jan. 13 by Patrolman Ken McKenzie, administrator of the new K9 Unit. The surprise visit by the two drew a standing ovation and congratulations on completing several weeks training.
Lawmakers also accepted two gift awards for the Police Department – $2,000 from? Digital Federal Credit Union to be used for youth programs within the department, and $1,501 from Companion Pet Sitting/K-9? Hydrotherapy of Northborough. Police Chief Mark Leonard and councilors expressed gratitude to both companies for the generous gifts.
In other police department business, Mayor Arthur Vigeant requested the council's approval of three grants recently awarded to the department. The first grant for $15,595.10 was given by the commonwealth of Massachusetts's Executive Office of Public Safety and a second grant for the same amount, was presented by the United States Department of Justice. Both are to be used to purchase tactical bulletproof vests for members of the police department, according to Vigeant's communication.
The third grant award in the amount of $8,400 from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security will fund traffic safety patrols throughout the city.
After the meeting McKenzie said:? “Kaiser is already on duty. We had a call about a suicidal male possibly in the woods. Kaiser sniffed out the location and the man came out peacefully and we placed him in the cruiser – safely.”
Learn more about McKenzie and Kaiser by visiting the Marlborough PD K-9 Facebook page,??? https://www.facebook.com/MPDK9.