FREEPORT POLICE

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FREEPORT POLICE
JOHN DUNBAR APPOINTED AS
FIRST VILLAGE OFFICER IN 1893,
DEPARTMENT ORGANIZED 1921.
FIRST LONG ISLAND POLICE FORCE
TO USE TRAINED CANINES 1962.
WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION 2024

In 1893, the board of trustees of the newly incorporated village of Freeport in Nassau County, New York, appointed John Dunbar as the first village officer. As Freeport continued to grow over the next few decades, it became apparent that the village would benefit from an established police force. In 1921, the Freeport Police Department was organized with eleven police officers, seventeen special patrolmen, and two policewomen. In 1962, this department would become the first police force on Long Island to use trained canines.

According to The Beginning of American K9 Units: A Brief History written by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, trained canines were at first used by military and private security agencies in the United States, and it was not until the end of World War II that police departments began to implement the use of trained canines. One such force that had successfully implemented trained dogs was the Bridgeport Connecticut police. On July 24, 1962, the Bridgeport Post reported that the mayor of Freeport and police officials from the village had visited the Bridgeport police to witness a demonstration of their K-9 corps team. It was reported how at the time, the Freeport community was interested in establishing a dog unit as well. On August 2, 1962, the Freeport Leader reported that while in Connecticut, Freeport officials also paid a visit to the Canine College in West Redding, Connecticut. The Leader stated that:

“With the report that they were very much impressed, the Village Board instructed Village Clerk John J. MacDonald to request Canine College head, John Behan, to send full particulars on acquiring one or two trained dogs for the use of the Freeport Police Department.”

The September 7, 1962 Nassau Edition of Newsday reported that the Freeport Police had recruited Mike, a 60-pound German shepherd who was partnered with his handler, Patrol Officer Beneditto Nicolino, marking the first time that a trained dog had been used by a police force on Long Island. The unit would soon include four dogs and five handlers in total.