K-9 Bert and his handler, Officer Pat Kimmich (Courtesy of police)

Ithaca, N.Y. — The Ithaca Police Department announced Tuesday that it’s bringing back its K-9 Team.

K-9 Bert and his handler, Officer Pat Kimmich (Courtesy of police)
K-9 Bert and his handler, Officer Pat Kimmich (Courtesy of police)

A Czech German Shepard named “Bert” and his handler Officer Pat Kimmich have passed their training program, Officer Jamie Williamson said Tuesday.

“Bert will be sworn-in as the newest member of the Ithaca Police Department” in a ceremony on Monday, June 23, at 11 a.m., Williamson said.

The police dog will have his day at City Hall.

“I am excited about having Officer Kimmich and Bert working together in our community,” Police Chief John Barber said in a news release.

“This is another avenue that will help out department build stronger police-community relations.”

A story in the Cornell Sun in March detailed some of a police dog’s functions:

Officer Pat Kimmich will undergo a training program with the dog where they will learn “basic dog obedience, tracking, suspect apprehension,” and other applicable skills, according to an IPD press release. Later this year, the dog and officer will become certified in explosive detection.

The K-9 team will attend Ithaca community events that draw large crowds, and will be responsible for “building searches, suspect apprehension, explosive detection and searches for missing persons,” the release said.

Jeff Stein is the founder and former editor of the Ithaca Voice.