Reading Police Celebrate New K-9 Tango’s First Successful Mission

READING — Chief David J. Clark and the Reading Police Department announce the department’s new K-9 has made its first successful “track.”

The department received its first K-9 in August 2022. Tango and his handler, Patrol Officer Chris Briere, then attended tracking school at the Boston Police Academy. They have joined the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) K-9 unit. Tango will undergo narcotics detection training this summer.

Tango and Briere’s first big mission was Monday, Feb. 13. A NEMLEC community responded to a report of a missing juvenile who was suicidal. The NEMLEC K-9 unit was called to the scene. Tango tracked the juvenile through a thickly wooded area for about a mile and was able to locate the juvenile. First responders reached the juvenile and provided them with appropriate assistance.

Tango was purchased thanks to funding from the Stanton Foundation. The foundation issues grants to local police departments for the initial acquisition and training of K-9s.

“Adding a K-9 to our department allows us to bring a new dimension to our search team,” Chief Clark said. “We are grateful for the funding provided by the Stanton Foundation that made Tango’s arrival possible.”