Toll of Commuting: Inside look at NJ Transit’s K-9 unit
The NJT K-9 team first developed after Sept. 11.
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Among the many employees at New Jersey Transit are more than a dozen who have four legs.
“To the officer, it's work,” said New Jersey Transit Police Chief Christopher Trucillo. “To the dog, it's play.”
NJ Transit Police K-9s Kenny and Stokes are two of the 15 dogs in the unit. They specialize in bomb and drug detection.
“They're trained on a wide variety of scents, liquids and vapors,” Trucillo said. “When you think about it, their sensory system is 100,000 times better than a human's, and they know if they find that, that's what's going to get them the reward.”
The NJT K-9 team first developed after Sept. 11. Each dog is trained for 16 weeks, including on how to navigate the escalators and slippery floors of the station. Once they’re matched with a handler, it’s a permanent fit.
“I'm very proud of the two officers that are here today, Sgt. Keith Delucca and Police Officer Michael Chesney,” said Trucillo. “Their residence has to be a good fit for the dog as well. We're very proud that the K-9 handlers’ families take the dog into their home.”
These dogs can be spotted at New Jersey Transit’s busiest stations, special events and occasionally visiting local schools.
“A patrol dog is an aggressive dog, but our dogs are lovable,” Trucillo said. “They're docile, and their mission is a different mission.”
