GREENFIELD — Police added a new officer to their ranks — of the furry, four-legged kind.
Donut, a 9-week-old Saint Bernard, was brought on as a comfort dog by the Greenfield Police Department. The puppy and his elder cousin, a Saint Bernard named Clarence, will be used to help members of the public, particularly children, cope with the stress of critical situations. The dogs will also be available to help first responders after difficult incidents.
“This dog is about lowering anxiety of the people dealing with the police department, and making a friendlier department to make better communication with our community,” said Lt. William Gordon, Donut’s owner.
Gordon, along with his wife and fellow Greenfield Police officer Laura Gordon, will be handling Donut. They are also handlers and owners for Clarence, who is 7 years old and nearing retirement. Donut will be the first permanent comfort dog connected with the department and the force’s only current canine.
According to Chief Robert Haigh, Donut will be used in a variety of situations where a softer or more gentle approach may be necessary.
“We need to be sensitive to a lot of different situations,” Haigh said. “It will be part of our department; it will be another resource.”
Gordon said he and his wife paid for Donut and that any veterinarian bills will be covered by them. Donut will be trained at NB Productions, a dog training center on Hope Street. Clarence will also be helping the puppy learn how to do its job. Both dogs came from BERIC Kennel in Romulus, N.Y.
Haigh said the cost for the department will be minimal, but couldn’t provide an exact number.
Donut’s principle purpose, Gordon said, will be to help children who may have been victims of a crime or who witnessed a tragedy but are unable to communicate or cope with what happened.
“Sometimes a child can tell a dog what happened when they feel uncomfortable telling a human,” he said. “It breaks down barriers.”
Donut will also provide stability for those experiencing mental health emergencies, acting as a calming influence so police can more effectively provide assistance.
Gordon said he chose the Saint Bernard due to its calm and loving nature, which can help alleviate stress in many situations.
“That’s the police officer’s job in the first place,” he said.
Gordon began to work with first responders about seven years ago, bringing Clarence to help following stressful incidents. Gordon joined with Brad Cole, who established the nonprofit organization K9 First Responders, to bring dogs to the police, fire and EMS personnel in times of need.
Gordon was inspired after he struggled as a first responder with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
“I have PTSD, and I noticed how much my dog was helping me,” Gordon said. “And I started noticing when I went to other police officers with PTSD how much the dogs helped them. As I recovered — and I’m doing much better now — I am not in the need of the dog myself, but I notice a lot of other people who could use the dog.”
Gordon said Clarence has helped first responders following national tragedies such as the shootings at Sandy Hook and Las Vegas, as well as the Boston Marathon bombing.
Both Clarence and Donut will continue to serve in this capacity. They are also part of the Western Massachusetts Critical Incident Stress Management team, which works with area emergency response agencies to assist first responders following significant traumatic events. These events could range from the death of a child to a multiple casualty incident.
Donut is expected to be seen at upcoming public events and will have his adventures cataloged on Facebook by Gordon. Meet-and-greet opportunities can be scheduled by calling Gordon at 413-775-5411, ext. 1313.
You can reach Dan Desrochers at: ddesrochers@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 257.