K-9 loves to serve and protect
By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
HIGHTSTOWN — Niko was trained to take a bite out of crime.
He has helped police seize approximately $100,000 in cash as well as a plethora of drugs including heroin, cocaine and marijuana.
The Czech Republic-born German shepherd spent one year training with handler Frank Marchione before joining the Hightstown Borough Police Department as its official K-9 on duty in 2008.
”He’s opened so many doors for us,” Mr. Marchione said, explaining police have made more than 100 arrests as a result of Niko.
Mr. Marchione drives a special Ford Crown Victoria that has a flat bed area with a rubber mat for Niko in place of a backseat.
Niko has assisted the Plainsboro, Princeton, East Windsor, Robbinsville and Trenton police.
”It’s great for other departments that we come together to help each other out,” Mr. Marchione said.
Mr. Marchione, who joined the department in 2001 as a patrolman, approached police Chief James Eufemia several years ago about the possibility of adding a K-9 to the force.
Mr. Marchione said he was “thrilled” when he learned the chief was receptive to the idea.
Organizations, individuals and businesses donated around $10,000 to transform that idea into a reality.
”I love it. I’m a dog person. I love animals,” Mr. Marchione said.
The Joshua Harr Shane Foundation, of East Windsor, donated $5,200, which covered Niko’s purchasing price.
Once enough money was raised by the donations of community members, Mr. Marchione, who is the father of two young children, with another baby on the way, drove up to Connecticut to retrieve Niko in 2007. The puppy came with a passport and written guarantee he would pass police training.
Niko then began a six-month patrol school program with the New Jersey State Police.
”The first month was very tiring,” Mr. Marchione recalled.
During this time, Niko learned how to search buildings for people, how to track people in the woods during various weather conditions, hold onto criminals and obey his handler.
Then Niko and Mr. Marchione attended a three-month long narcotics training program with the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office.
On the day of graduation from that program, Mr. Marchione received a call from the Robbinsville Police Department, asking for K-9 assistance. In Niko’s first drug bust, he found 10 decks of heroin located in a hidden compartment of a vehicle.
It was a successful graduation day.
Since then, Niko has served the Hightstown Police Department in a variety of capacities.
He’s even been trained to smell fear, Mr. Marchione said, explaining that when a person is upset, they shed more skin cells, which Niko can detect.
Niko serves full time.
He has regular scheduled checkups at Robbinsville Veterinary Clinic.
”They’ve taken really good care of us from day one,” Mr. Marchione said.
An 85-pound, dark-haired beauty, Niko turned 5 this May. The working dog and his handler were featured in John Baer’s annual “Cops & Dogs 2010” calendar for the month of February.
Niko receives positive re-enforcement from his handler for good behavior, which includes each time he locates drugs or cash. He also has been trained to bite on command.
Often times, people admit to having drugs once they see Niko, Mr. Marchione said.
The dog also has kept busy earning his keep.
”In the three years Niko has been on the road, he still has not cost the taxpayers any money,” Mr. Marchione said. “He has been completely self-sufficient with forfeiture money that we have received from his seizures.”
Chief Eufemia said, “In many ways, a K-9 adds an additional ‘officer’ and partner for the handler. Our K-9 team is very valuable in that they are able to track persons, either those gone missing or sought by the police, detect narcotics, search buildings and protect the police and public if needed. Niko works the same schedule as Patrolman Marchione, which is a full time position, even though their schedule rotates on a regular basis.”
He added, “I have seen Patrolman Marchione and Niko at work and during training many times, and it is obvious to me that they make a great team. They have proven to be effective in scent work involving narcotics and continue to be successful. We are fortunate to have them as members of this department.”
While Niko officially belongs to the department as part of his contract with Hightstown, he’ll be able to live out his retirement with the Marchione family where he resides while off duty.
For more information on the annual “Cops & Dogs” calendar, visit www.policedontmove.com.