For Immediate Release

Friday, Jan. 1, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Newburyport Police Department Launches First K-9 Program

NEWBURYPORT — City Marshal Mark Murray is pleased to announce that Newburyport Police Department launched its first K-9 program this week.

Officer Eric Marshall and his dog Epic completed the 15-week Boston Police K-9 Academy on Dec. 24. and began patrols in Newburyport on Dec. 28.

Epic is a German Shepherd from Kingston, N.H. He will turn 2 years old on Jan. 8.

“This is the first K-9 unit the department has ever had and we are very excited about this program,” Marshal Murray said. “Officer Marshall and Epic make a great team and I know they will serve our community well.”

At the academy, Officer Marshall and Epic trained in the following areas:

• Tracking 
• Obedience
• Area searches
• Building searches
• Article searches
• Muzzle education
• Aggression

The K-9 program was made possible through a $25,000 grant from the Stanton Foundation.

A special thank you to donors who also assisted in the launch of the program: the Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank, the Newburyport Elks:BPOE#909, Mark Richey Woodworking and M. K. Benatti Jewelers

Additional thanks to Tom Nichols from the Amesbury Police Department and Rich Dellaria from the Salisbury Police Department for their assistance setting up the program.

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