Paul Bass Photo
Mayor and newly sworn officer shake on it.
New Haven’s newest police officer got a little help with his swearing-in Tuesday afternoon.
“I’d normally ask you to raise your right paw,” Mayor Justin Elicker said before administering the oath of duty to the officer, a 3‑and-a-half-year-old Yellow Labrador Retriever named Finn, but “I’m not sure if you’ll be able to hold it up the whole time.”
“I’d say, ‘Repeat after me,’” Elicker added, “but just pay attention.”
Elicker recited the oath for Finn about “faithfully and impartially performing the duties of police comfort dog.”
“So help me God,” Elicker ended, then amended his remarks: “So help me dog.”
The festive swearing in took place at police headquarters at 1 Union Ave.
Finn, the department’s first-ever comfort dog, attended at the leash of his assigned handler, four-year veteran Officer Patti Lambe. He will accompany her to her duties at this summer’s Police Athletic League (PAL) camp, to her regular academic-year posting as a school resource officer at Wilbur Cross, and on calls to officers and community members who experience trauma.
Such therapy dogs are a trend in police departments; Yale and UConn’s forces as well as Groton’s already have such canine members. Finn is the the New Haven department’s first-ever comfort dog, and its ninth canine overall, according to Chief Karl Jacobson. The others sniff out bombs or drugs (but not marijuana). They do not engage in crowd control (unlike this aggressive state police canine).
A family foundation called For Cameron donated Finn to the department. Co-founder Isabelle Firine (pictured) said the donation is in memory of her brother Cameron, who died of fentanyl poisoning during a relapse. “He was not defined by his addiction,” she said. “He loved dogs” and was studying to become a counselor to help other people struggling with substance abuse.
Tuesday’s swearing-in featured balloons and Finn-themed cupcakes …
… and visits from pooch pals from other departments.
Finn needed the occasional breather from all the attention …
… but rose to the call of duty, including when WTNH needed a Finn-terview.