Stoughton Police Introduce New K-9 Team: Officer Steve Camara and K-9 Bator

Stoughton Police Officer Steve Camara and K-9 Bator are the newest K-9 team at the Stoughton Police Department. (Photo Courtesy Stoughton Police Department)

STOUGHTON — Chie​f​ Donna McNamara is pleased to announce the addition of a new K-9 team to the Stoughton Police Department, with Officer Steve Camara and his partner, K-9 Bator, now certified and ready for service.

Officer Camara, an 11-year veteran of the department, was selected as Stoughton Police’s new canine handler following a competitive interview process that included command staff and experienced handlers from neighboring agencies. He was chosen from a strong field of candidates based on his high performance, professionalism and dedication to the department and public service.

Officer Camara recently completed a six-week training program at Shallow Creek Kennels in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, alongside his new partner, Bator, a 22-month-old German Shepherd imported from Hungary.

The K-9 team earned national certification through the North American Police Working Dog Association (NAPWDA) in article, area and building searches, aggression control, firearms detection and tracking.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to take on this new role and continue serving the Town of Stoughton in a different way,” Officer Camara said. “Working alongside Bator has already been an incredible experience, and I’m excited to put our training to work for our community.”

Chief ​M​cNamara said the department is proud to bring K-9 services back in-house after relying on assistance from neighboring agencies.

“We are excited to have Officer Camara and K-9 Bator supporting our daily operations,” Chief McNamara said. “Since the retirement of K-9 Dino, we have depended on our regional partners for K-9 support. Bringing this capability back to Stoughton strengthens our ability to serve and protect our residents.”

​The Stoughton Police Department would also like to acknowledge the support of Mass Vest-A-Dog, which provided a $7,200 grant to help offset the costs of purchasing and training the K-9 team.

“This partnership made a meaningful difference in allowing us to move forward with this program,” Chief McNamara said. “We are grateful for their continued support of law enforcement and public safety.”

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Stoughton Police Officer Steve Camara and K-9 Bator recently completed a six-week training program at Shallow Creek Kennels in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania. (Photo Courtesy Stoughton Police Department)