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40 P O LI C E C HIE F H MAY 2020 policechiefmagazine.org ALBANY, NEW YORK’S THERAPY DOG PROGRAM BY Steven A. Smith Jr., Public Information Officer, Albany New York Police Department CANINES HELPING COPS AND THE COMMUNITY The therapy dog’s presence offers a way for officers to connect with community members. IAC 411 May2020_F.indd 40 IAC 411 May2020_F.indd 40 4/15/20 3:01 PM 4/15/20 3:01 PM ---PAGE BREAK--- M AY 2020 H P O LI C E C HIE F 41 CALLS FLOODED THE ALBANY POLICE DEPART- MENT’S COMMUNICATION DIVISION IN NEW YORK’S CAPITAL CITY; BOTH THE POLICE AND FIRE R ADIOS WE RE FILLE D WITH CHAT TE R. DISPATCH E RS, OR TELECOMMUNICATIONS SPECIALISTS AS THEY’RE FORMALLY KNOWN, ARE USED TO BUSY AND STRESSFUL DAYS. But this day was different for veteran dispatcher Thomas Degan. Thanks to his more than 25 years of experience in managing crises and juggling calls, Degan knows that some days are just harder than others. The pace is relentless. The calls pile up. So many people need help, and he’s just one person who can do only so much. This was one of those more difficult days. But something unusual helped take the edge off for Degan—something most people wouldn’t expect to see at a workplace, especially not sleeping next to a desk at a busy emergency dispatch center. That something is a purebred black Labrador named Maxie, one of two therapy dogs that are part of an innovative, successful, and popular program launched at the Albany New York Police Department in 2019. “I was really having a bad day, and having Maxie in the communications center was great,” Degan later told Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins in an email. “It really made a difference in the way I was feeling that day and had a positive impact on the overall morale of the staff in the center.” FROM IDEA TO IMPLEMENTATION Shortly after his appointment in September 2018 to lead the 500-employee agency, Hawkins took note of the need for a department-wide morale boost and began to think of how best to address it. Hawkins is a health and wellness believer. He’s an early riser, prefers beet juice to caffeine, and runs on the treadmill every morning before work. He understands that maintaining physical and mental health is the key to success in a profession that asks a lot of its people. As an active member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and a law enforce- ment officer for more than 30 years, Hawkins has seen a sea change in the industry. He knows that while law enforcement remains among the most rewarding of careers, it’s also one that is increas- ingly challenging. Those challenges have become even more pro- nounced at police agencies across the globe as sworn and non-sworn employees struggle with staffing shortages, added responsibilities, and an increase in criticism from the very communities they serve. The Albany Police Department is no different, and, like many other agencies, it is always being asked to do more with less. Hawkins knew he needed a solution that would have widespread appeal, assist sworn and non-sworn personnel alike, and not cost the city a lot of money. Hawkins was aware that therapy dogs were being deployed in hospitals, schools, and even court- rooms as a way of reducing anxiety and diffusing tension. These dogs seemed extremely effective in helping patients and their presence clearly comforted people—especially while they testified on the witness stand and participated in court proceedings. The chief wondered if law enforcement personnel, who are also routinely under high levels of stress, would have a similar positive experience if they had access to a therapy dog at work. In November 2018, Hawkins sent a memo to all department personnel, seeking volunteers to sit on a therapy dog committee. Committee members were tasked with researching whether a therapy Albany's first therapy dog, Maxie, with her handler, Officer Haller. IAC 411 May2020_F.indd 41 IAC 411 May2020_F.indd 41 4/15/20 3:01 PM 4/15/20 3:01 PM ---PAGE BREAK--- 42 P O LI C E C HIE F H MAY 2020 policechiefmagazine.org dog program would help the agency, and, if so, how such a program might work. Fourteen employees, sworn and non-sworn, from units across the de- partment volunteered. Getting buy-in from the rank and file was key for Hawkins. He did not be- lieve a top-down directive on this kind of initiative would work. “It was really important to me, as chief, to empower my employees, give them a voice, and allow them to develop a therapy dog program for their department,” Hawkins explained. Led by Sergeant Daniel Meehan, the therapy dog committee began to meet regularly. Members considered the health benefits of therapy dogs and how these animals could operate in a law enforce- ment setting. The committee sought information from other agencies across the United States. However, they found that while many departments had K9 units, and some even had mascot-type sit- uations with dogs present in an unofficial capacity, no one had an official therapy dog program. In other words, there was no blueprint to follow. The Albany Police Department, if it decided to go forward, would have to create something com- pletely new. “Some agencies we spoke to didn’t have a for- mally established therapy dog program but would allow colleagues to bring their dogs into the office,” Meehan recalled. “Some of the dogs weren’t even certified therapy dogs.” The committee in Albany wanted a formalized therapy dog program that would include a handler and specific departmental policy. The committee also envisioned a program that would benefit not only employees within the organization, but members of the community as well. According to Therapy Dogs International, a volun- teer organization that regulates, tests, and registers dogs and their handlers, therapy dogs—when properly employed—have a wide range of mental and physical health benefits. They can lower a person’s blood pressure, improve their cardiovascular health, and spur the release of endorphins, making anxious people feel calmer. They are also known to lift spirits, decrease feelings of isolation, provide comfort, and decrease anxiety for those with whom they come into contact. As it relates to law enforcement, the committee believed there would be multiple other uses for a therapy dog, both in-house and out in the Albany community. Members saw the potential in having a loving dog in the city courts, especially in cases involving trauma in children and victims of sexual and physical abuse. The dogs might also be bene- ficial at the scene of a critical incident or disaster area, the committee thought. “Fully understanding the benefits and the many intended uses for therapy dogs really excited the committee, and we knew this was something we had to get off the ground,” Meehan said. THERAPY DOG SELECTION AND TRAINING In April 2019, word began to get out that the Albany Police Department was looking into therapy dogs. Jennifer Harmon, the owner of a 15-month-old black purebred Labrador retriever, offered to donate her dog for use in the yet-unofficial program. This was a huge step forward in the planning process, and the dog was graciously accepted. At the time, the dog’s name was Beacon Ray of Light, but during the planning stages of the program, she was renamed Maxie in honor of an Albany police officer who passed away too soon. Though a dog had been secured, discussions continued over how to fund the program in which Maxie would serve and how it would be sustained over the long term. The answer came from the Albany Police and Fire Foundation. Albany’s therapy dogs relieve stress and boost morale among the agency staff. IAC 411 May2020_F.indd 42 IAC 411 May2020_F.indd 42 4/15/20 3:01 PM 4/15/20 3:01 PM ---PAGE BREAK--- M AY 2020 H P O LI C E C HIE F 43 Kevin O’Connor, retired CEO of an Albany-based telecommunications company, founded the foun- dation in 2001. O’Connor worked in state govern- ment and comes from a family of New York City police officers. He’s deeply familiar with the finan- cial struggles faced by emergency services agencies. The nonprofit he created assists the Albany police and fire departments with purchasing equipment and funding innovative programs, such as the one Albany Police Department proposed: Therapy dogs have been proven to have many health benefits, and, when I heard about what the police department was looking to do, the Albany Police and Fire Foundation was thrilled to support such an initiative. We were also excited to work with MVP Healthcare, which agreed to be a major contributor for this program. MVP Healthcare staff were some of the first peo- ple outside of the department to meet Maxie. Just days after she was donated, the therapy dog com- mittee members met with a team from the health insurance company that provides community grants and presented their research and vision for the program. Maxie did her part, too, walking under the conference room table and greeting everyone. MVP agreed to donate $10,000 to the foundation to help implement the therapy dog program and later provided an additional $5,000. The organization’s president and CEO, Christopher Del Vecchio, sees the value in the program for both the agency and community: Therapy dogs undoubtedly have a lasting impact on how children and adults cope with stress, anxi- ety, and other emotions during times of uncertainty and trauma. We are proud to support the Albany Police Department’s efforts to improve the health and well-being of Albany residents through this new and innovative program. Following a selection process that included inter- views and home visits by members of the therapy dog committee, Officer Kyle Haller, a patrol officer out of the Center Station, was selected as the primary handler for Maxie. Similar to patrol K9s, Maxie lives with Haller and his family. The department decided a second dog would be beneficial to the program, so Maxie and Haller wouldn’t have to shoulder the job alone. Following the same interview process, Officer Joseph a police officer with the Neighborhood Engagement Unit, was chosen as the primary handler for a sec- ond dog that had yet to join the ranks. In addition to Haller and secondary han- dlers were also chosen to care for and deploy the dogs in the event that the primary handlers are on vacation, injured, or otherwise unable to serve in the role. Officers Jan Mika and Joseph Acquaviva were selected for these roles. On June 3, 2019, Haller, and Maxie attended a law enforcement–specific comfort dog training called Paws and Stripes College at the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. Here, received Finn—a black Labrador rescue that received obedience training from inmates at the Brevard County Jail. It was a coincidence that RECOMMENDATIONS Tips and lessons learned from the Albany Police Department: § Establish a diverse group of employees from all areas of your agency to identify the wants, needs, and goals of the therapy dog program that you’re trying to create. § Do your research and understand that therapy dogs have many uses. How will a therapy dog fit into your agency’s mission? § Determine how you are going to fund the program. Work with community partners, foundations, or businesses to try to secure donations that will help offset costs. § Reach out to local dog trainers, breeders, animal shelters, and veterinarians to locate a suitable dog. You may find someone who is willing to donate a dog to your agency. § Have potential dogs undergo a temperament test by a certified dog trainer. § Make sure the handler you select is flexible and personable and has the means to care for a dog at his or her home. Home visits during the selection process are encouraged. § Work with a local therapy dog trainer to ensure that your dog is prepared for the test that is required for it to become an officially certified therapy dog. § Use it or lose it. Once your dog has achieved certification, it’s important to continue training. Doing so ensures your therapy dog continues to perform as intended. § Ensure your therapy dog has reliable transportation so it can be present where most needed. § Set up a dedicated phone number or email address that will allow members of your community to request your agency’s therapy dog at their schools, gatherings, or other community events. Being able to attend as many events as possible is essential to the success of the program and helps build meaningful relationships with the community. § Give the program time to flourish and win over those in your agency who may initially be resistant. While some may just not like dogs, we’ve found that others have grown to love our dogs and see them as part of our agency’s family. IAC 411 May2020_F2.indd 43 IAC 411 May2020_F2.indd 43 4/16/20 9:00 AM 4/16/20 9:00 AM ---PAGE BREAK--- 44 P O LI C E C HIE F H MAY 2020 policechiefmagazine.org train both dogs for free to prepare them for the Therapy Dogs International certification test. The 12-week training is intense. Dogs must demonstrate that they can refuse food, behave in social situations, and—perhaps most important— be good canine citizens that can ignore distrac- tions and not react to external stimulations such as loud noises, other dogs, or other animals. “Both dogs performed very well, and temperament tests conducted before the dogs were chosen to become part of the program were very accurate,” Rogers said. “It has really been a pleasure to work with Maxie, Finn, and the officers from the depart- ment. It has been wonderful to see them in action.” In August 2019, both Maxie and Finn became officially certified as therapy dogs through Therapy Dogs International after evaluation by an indepen- dent judge. INTERNAL MORALE BOOSTERS Rogers and the officers continue to meet regularly for biweekly trainings to ensure that Maxie and Finn maintain their skills. They even worked a few tricks into the dogs’ repertoire that have become very popular with employees at the department and members of the community. Maxie is famous for her “squirrel” pose, in which she stands up on her back legs with her front paws extended in front of her. Finn excels at touch pad training and is impressing people with his “ups,” sometimes even reaching heights of more than four feet. Maxie and Finn have very different personalities, and as such, offer different benefits in a variety of situations. Maxie is very low key. Her favorite activity is snug- gling. Finn is enthusiastic. He greets people with a kiss to the face and then wants to play fetch and maybe even run the department hallways. Staff have learned to not be surprised if Finn jumps into their laps during roll call or while they’re typing reports at their desks. “Finn has a fun and unique way of energizing employees within the department,” said. “If I go to the juvenile unit or crime analysis center without him, I’m usually greeted by staff with something to the effect of: ‘Oh, it’s just you. Where’s Finn?’” But there was an adjustment period according to Meehan: When we officially launched the program and the dogs began reporting to work with their handlers, there was a lot of uncertainty and employees were very standoffish. Over time and following many this dog bore the name of a fallen Albany police officer, Lieutenant John Finn, who was shot in the line of duty and died in early 2004. At the Florida training, Maxie and Finn got familiar with their handlers and received specific instruc- tions on how to behave in a law enforcement set- ting. How to deploy these dogs might seem simple, but, actually, it requires a great deal of thought. While intentions may be good, using the dogs in certain situations could actually be harmful. For example, a therapy dog should not be deployed in a situation where its presence might re-victimize someone or make a person uncomfortable. These situations were discussed at the training. The offi- cers also spent a significant amount of time in the courtroom witnessing how the dogs could benefit people on the stand. Upon their return to Albany, Maxie and Finn were now “comfort dogs,” but they needed to undergo more specific training to be certified as therapy dogs. Comfort dogs are classified as service ani- mals, while therapy dogs need certification from a reputable organization. Once certified, they can interact and provide health benefits to groups of people in public or private settings. Kathleen Rogers, operations manager at the Bloomingrove Veterinary Hospital near Albany, is well connected in the local therapy dog commu- nity and has been a therapy dog trainer for over 23 years. She played an essential role in facilitating the donation of Maxie and graciously agreed to The therapy dogs regularly attend com- munity events, where they greet residents with enthusiasm and compassion. IAC 411 May2020_F.indd 44 IAC 411 May2020_F.indd 44 4/15/20 3:01 PM 4/15/20 3:01 PM ---PAGE BREAK--- M AY 2020 H P O LI C E C HIE F 45 visits at different units and divisions throughout the department, Maxie and Finn have become part of the APD family and loved by many. Nonetheless, department employees clearly have enjoyed the boost in morale and other benefits of the therapy dog program. Whether in the commu- nications center, detectives’ office, one of the sta- tions, or even hanging out in Chief Hawkins’ office, Maxie and Finn are making a positive impact. PROVIDING CALM IN A CRISIS Members of the public have also reaped the benefits of this innovative and successful program. Maxie and Finn have been to schools, the pediatric hospital at Albany Medical Center Hospital, the Center for Disability Services, and many com- munity pop-up BBQ’s sponsored by the police department. The dogs always greet residents with enthusiasm, love, and compassion. Maxie and Finn have also been useful during routine patrol and other department operations. Haller recalls several emergency calls at which Maxie’s mere presence created a dialogue and kept people calm. One incident in particular occurred on a very cold day in early November 2019. While Haller and Maxie were on patrol in their Dodge Durango, they responded to a motor vehicle crash on Albany’s Washington Avenue Extension. When he arrived, Haller observed a sedan on its side off the roadway. The driver, a woman, was trapped inside the vehicle, but her 9-year-old son had crawled out the window. The child was unin- jured but clearly traumatized as he watched fire- fighters extricate his mother from the wreckage. The woman was eventually placed into an ambu- lance and transported to a local hospital where she was treated for minor injuries. Her son joined her for the ride. Knowing the boy was under a lot of stress, Haller followed the ambulance to the hos- pital and introduced the boy to Maxie. While [his] mom was lying in the bed being treated for her injuries, Maxie kept the boy company and snuggled up next to him during their time at the hospital. The boy really enjoyed being with Maxie. You could tell that her being there with him made a real difference during a difficult time. The boy’s mom was also a fan and was able to pet Maxie from her hospital bed. Haller also recalled a domestic incident on Albany’s Clinton Avenue in which a young girl had an altercation with her stepfather. While trying to ascertain information about the incident, the young girl informed Haller that she didn’t like the police and wasn’t going to talk to him. Haller asked her if she liked dogs and introduced her to Maxie. After petting and playing with Maxie, the young girl began to open up. Maxie truly broke down barriers, and she helped me establish a dialogue with this young girl. At the end, the young girl didn’t just tell me about the incident with her stepfather; she was telling me about school and other interests in her life. Before leaving, she called me her friend. Haller and agree that Maxie and Finn have become part of the department’s culture and family. Officers love having the dogs in the stations, and, while it’s certainly not condoned by their handlers, employees have been known to feed them biscuits and even sneak them the odd donut hole. Though Haller and take these dogs home at night, they say the animals truly have become the entire department’s concern and responsibility. The Albany Police Department’s therapy dog pro- gram has been fully operational for about a year. Other police departments across the United Sates are now beginning to take notice of this unique program’s effectiveness and are reaching out to ask how they might start programs of their own. Chief Hawkins said he hopes Albany’s effort can serve as a model, as he has seen firsthand all the good these dogs can do. Law enforcement professionals, both sworn and non-sworn, do amazing work each day. It’s impor- tant that we continue to take care of them and provide them with the tools and resources they need to effectively do their jobs and serve—even if it’s a loveable pup. IACP RESOURCES § “Spotlight: The New School Resource ‘Officer’ in Wausau” (article) § “Spotlight: Service Dogs for Posttraumatic Support” (article) § “Officer Safety Corner: Paws for a Pause” (article) policechiefmagazine.org IAC 411 May2020_F.indd 45 IAC 411 May2020_F.indd 45 4/15/20 3:01 PM 4/15/20 3:01 PM