TJ, Easton’s K-9, is in the running for a $5,000 grant and is looking for more votes.
TJ and his partner, Officer Tamra French, are among 23 K-9 units vying for a Hometown Foundation grant. The Cheshire-based charity will award three grants totaling $12,000 to police K-9 units that are not fully funded by their local and state municipalities and that rely heavily on private donations.
Winners will be determined based on the top three law enforcement agencies with the most votes. The first-place winner will receive $5,000, the second-place winner $4,000, and the third-place winner $3,000.
As of now, TJ has 5,558 votes and is one of the top three K-9s vying to receive a grant. Odin, a K-9 with the Enfield Police Department, is in second place with 4,969 votes.
“Hometown Foundation has been awesome,” said French. “They do a lot for K-9 dogs, from equipment to training. They are there for the dogs.”
French and TJ, a 7-year-old German shepherd, are involved with the Easton community. For example, they conduct demonstrations for local schools, Boy Scout troops and the town’s senior population.
TJ is important to the Easton police because it is a small department. Typically, only two or three officers are working at a time. When patrolling Easton, which is 30 square miles, it can be a challenge to have backup officers. French said she loves having TJ around and always feels she has backup when he is with her.
“Not every town is lucky to have a K-9 unit like we do,” said French. “TJ is everything. He is my work partner, my backup, and he protects my family. I live on a farm, so he also protects that as well.”
If TJ wins a grant, French will use it for his benefit. The K-9 program is funded solely through donations as there is no budget for it. French organizes fundraising throughout the year, which helps pay for TJ’s food and vet care. The grant will also be used for training, which would enable TJ to do his job even better.
You can vote online here and you can find TJ on Instagram @eastonpd_k9tj.
Voting closes Feb. 28, and the grant will be awarded on March 8.
