Harrison Township police officially welcomed their first K-9 unit on Feb. 22, with more than 50 residents attending the ceremony sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts.
The new K-9, 1-year-old German shepherd Dunkin, was named after the donut chain to commemorate franchisee Kenny Patel’s donation of $50,000 to the police department.
“We have no doubt that Dunkin will be a valuable asset to this community due to his ability to track and search for missing persons, suspects, evidence, apprehend criminals, conduct building searches and be utilized as a community policing tool,” Police Chief Ronald A. Cundey said.
Harrison patrol officer Gregory Germscheid and Dunkin recently graduated from the John “Sonny” Burke K-9 Academy in Atlantic County. Germscheid received an award named for Burke during his 22 weeks at the academy.
“This prestigious award is given to the K-9 team that demonstrated the highest level of performance and dedication during their training, and is voted on by his peers and academy staff,” Cundey said.
Patel, who owns both Mullica Hill Dunkin’ Donuts locations, fully funded the K-9 unit, an expensive addition not covered by the police budget.
“Without Kenny’s extremely generous donation, the creation of this unit would not be possible,” Cundey noted. “Kenny is consistently giving back to the police department and the entire community, from donating masks to residents during the peak of COVID, monetary donations to various community-oriented organizations and of course donating Dunkin’ coffee and donuts to them as well.”
While Patel has worked with K-9 units in the past, the ceremony was more personal because he’s been a resident of Harrison Township for 15 years.
“This is home to me,” he said.
Mayor Lou Manzo officially swore in Dunkin at the end of the Camden County College event.
“I was honored to attend the ceremony on Friday … and when you hear [the police] speak, there’s a brotherhood that goes beyond the brotherhood of regular law enforcement,” Manzo said. “And you recognize that immediately.”
