Hopatcong Police Acquire New K-9 Officer
Through a donation by The Lake Hopatcong Elks Lodge 782, Hopatcong PD recently welcomed a new K-9 officer into the ranks
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A year after the Hopatcong Police Department was hit with the sudden loss of K-9 Officer Rosco, the department has now welcomed K-9 Eli into the ranks through the help of the Elks Lodge.
The German Shephard was purchased from the Seeing Eye in Morris Township, following a $500 donation from the Lodge, according to a report on nj.com and the police department's website.
"K-9 Eli is a one purpose dog and that is for drug detection," said Lt. Thomas Kmetz in a press release. "He will be used on motor vehicle stops, school searches and anywhere else where someone may be hiding narcotics."
K-9 Eli along with his handler Officer Thomas Snyder will attend a 14-week training program conducted by the New Jersey State Police K-9 division. Following their completion, Eli and Snyder will be utilized by Hopatcong and surrounding towns to detect narcotics through the borough's K-9 truck that was used by Detective Michael Luciani with his late K-9 Rosco.
K-9 Eli replaces his predecessor Rosco, who spent most of his life as a borough human-tracking dog when he joined in 2005. Rosco survived a life-threatening illness and surgery in November 2012 before his death in July of that year. Prior to his death, Hopatcong honored Rosco with a box of treats and a "You Make a Difference" award in January 2012 and a borough Eagle Scout built a dog house for Rosco at the police department. Over 60 residents attended a memorial for Rosco.
The Hopatcong Police is accepting donations for the K-9 program to cover vet bills, food and equipment. Anyone interested in donating toward K-9 Eli and the department's efforts to detect narcotics can contact Kmetz at tkmetz@hopatcongpolice.org or (973) 398-5000 ext 234.
In This article
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Hopatcong Borough Police Department
111 River Styx Rd, Hopatcong, NJ -
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The Seeing Eye
10 Washington Valley Rd, Morristown, NJ -
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Roseanne Marie S.
11:25 am on Sunday, March 10, 2013
Best of luck to Eli and Officer Snyder! Hopatcong's new double threat to those who use and bring drugs into our town.
Rich Smith
11:25 am on Sunday, March 10, 2013
It’s a sad testimony to the times we live in when a tracking dog is replaced with a one function drug detecting dog. Not going to be the same loved by everyone K9 Officer but I agree a much needed one. Lots of luck to Officer Snyder and Eli.
The Watcher
8:42 pm on Sunday, March 10, 2013
Glad to see them both on the job but isn't it sad that a town fixes up around the municipal building but has to get help from the Elks to purchase Eli and is asking for donations for the K9 program?
BeachBum
10:24 am on Monday, March 11, 2013
Eli should definitely stay busy in Hopatcong
Observer
7:56 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
In Hopatcong, it means the ultimate in job security. Good luck to both.
jazzman
7:56 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
that dog will have such detection value,i hearing he will be able to detect drugs in cars driving thru town without even a MV stops.oh if thats the case that poor dogs going to be doing alot of sitting and barking
Nucky Thompson
10:20 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Actually what Officer Synder and Eli should do is to take is to take long walks up in the hills and heights. There's got to be at least a meth lab, crack shack, or grow farm that Eli will hit on. The more drug arrests, the better we will all be.
NJ Resident
1:33 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Welcome K9 Eli. You will definitely have a very busy career in Hopatcong When I worked for the MCMUA, the K9 training & kennel was in the back of the bldg & I loved watching them work/train. Watching Alpha Dogs is also facinating to watch. My GSDs do detections on their own, it comes naturally to them. Wonderful working dogs who take much pride in their jobs. Congrats & welcome once again. Rosco is still missed, but I'm glad to see Hopatcong has another K9, this time for drugs. A big problem, sadly around here now. God Bless and Thank You for your service, many thanks to the Elk's Lodge for their donation.
Ken DiMilia
10:42 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Go getum Eli!
Ken DiMilia
10:20 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Go getum Eli
Emily
9:10 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Officer Snyder and Eli, welcome aboard!!! Lots of work to be done and it is reassuring to know we have someone like Officer Snyder to take on such a task. Very time consuming ,but very rewarding. I know how much work goes into training a dog because of Rosco. You need everyones support . Good luck !!!!