Mary Johnson Photo
Joker
Branford police recently conducted an internal investigation into the actions of Joker, Branford’s police K‑9, after he apparently managed to get out of a locked but air-conditioned Branford police car last month and bite a teenage boy outside a house where teens were holding a beer party.
Police Chief Kevin Halloran outlined the dog’s actions at a police commission meeting held at police headquarters last night. Joker, a German Shepherd-Belgium Malinois, has been on the job for more than 15 months. During that time he has faced numerous dangerous situations, including escaping from a choke-hold that nearly killed him. He was graduated from the state police K‑9 training academy in late May, 2015.
On August 22, Officer Luigi Amasino, Joker’s partner, had been deployed to a house where the party was in full swing.
Amasino pulled up to the scene and got out, leaving the air-conditioning on for Joker, who was in the back seat of a police car, a Ford Crown Victoria.
Joker had a clear view of the scene.
Mary Johnson Photo
Joker and Officer Luigi Amasino
So when the dog sensed that his partner might be trouble, he became agitated. One of the teens Amasino wanted to talk to ran away from him and Amasino gave chase. Joker, watching the scene unfold, began jumping up and down in the back seat.
Somehow Joker managed to get out of the locked car. The dog is believed to have hit a switch that triggered the window to open, the state canine training unit later determined. Then out he went.
Amasino quickly assessed the situation and told the group of teens not to move. Police initially thought one of the boys who was standing nearby did move. But the youth told the police he did not move, Halloran said in an interview. Yet he caught Joker’s eye, not the youth Amasino was chasing.
Joker pounced on the teen and bit his arm. He needed 11 stitches to close the wound. None of the teens’ names has been made public because they are all under the age of 18. They are believed to be juniors or seniors at Branford High School.
Joker was taken out of service, Halloran said, while Branford’s internal affairs office conducted its own inquiry. They later determined that this was “an unfortunate, freak accident,” he told the Eagle.
Joker is now back in service. No police action was taken against the dog or the officer.
The irony is that the police had already purchased an SUV that would better protect the vehicle’s front seat, one that contains a computer station, camera equipment and a laptop operation. Joker now sits in a large, secure crate in the back seat.
“Had we gotten our newer vehicle on the road three days earlier, this would not have happened,” the chief told the commission.
Jill Marcus, the police commission chair, asked the chief about the nature of the bite. Halloran said it was a strong one.
Halloran told the commission this was “an unfortunate situation” and that he had been in touch with the youth’s father after the incident.
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Good for Joker
Whether anyone wants to admit it or not the teens were doing something illegal at this party and he say his handler in a situation that was overwhelming. A large number of loud people and a hostile individual. He protected the officer by going after the individual that didnt appear to be cooperating..He did his JOB. Parents mind what your children are doing. They may be juniors ad seniors but reality is you are still responsible for their actions and they had NO BUSINESS with alcohol. All said glad the young man is recovering ...11 stitches is equivalent to a cut from soccer match so we know it isnt life altering.