Newly graduated NYPD K-9s named in honor of fallen heroes

The welcomed its newest K-9s this week by naming each of the police dogs after officers who died in the line of duty.

It's been a tradition within the department since the 1980s and continues now as a way to honor officers who made the ultimate sacrifice.

"We want to be very active in keeping their memory alive," Lt. William Esposito, who is the commanding officer of the Critical Response Command (CRC) K-9 Unit, told the The National Desk on Friday.

Twenty-one K-9s, as well as their namesakes, were honored in that was held in New York City on Thursday. While 13 police dogs were assigned to the CRC K-9 Unit, the other eight were assigned to the bomb squad.

Among the police dogs was K-9 Joey, a 4-year-old Labrador Retriever who was named after Lt. Giuseppe"Joey" Petrosino, the first commanding officer of the NYPD's Bomb Squad.

Petrosino was killed in 1909 while he was investigating a case involving the BlackHand, a precursor to what is now known as the mob or mafia. He was in Sicily at the time of his death.

"Petrosino had served on the NYPD for 25 years and was 48 years old when he was murdered," the NYPD noted. "To this day, Lieutenant Petrosino is the only member of the NYPD to be killed in a line of duty in a foreign land."

K-9 Billy was named in memory of Detective William Holfester, who died from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which the NYPD said "he contracted after inhaling toxic chemicals and material while working hundreds of hours a Ground Zero," the site of the deadly 9/11 attacks.

Holfester, an avid boater who loved being out on the water, served with the NYPD for 17 years.

K-9 Ranger was also named in honor of an officer who died following 9/11. Sgt. Christopher Christodoulou passed away in 2017 after he developed stage IV brain cancer "as a direct result of exposure to the toxins" at the site.

The police dog's name is a nod toChristodoulou's favorite hockey team: The New York Rangers.

"While Chris was sick, the Rangers were almost like a source of strength for him, and [his' family even got the chance to meet them after being invited to a private practice," the NYPD said.

Some of the police dogs, including K-9 Joey, have already been working with the department for at least a year, while others are newer to the force. They are all 2 years old or older.

"No dog hits the streets before 2," Esposito said, with many of the dogs expected to work until they are about 8 or 10.

The goal is to enhance public safety, with all the dogs extensively trained in bomb detection. The K-9s, which mostly consist of German shorthaired pointers and labradors, are deployed at iconic hotspots during events across NYC to keep people safe.

The NYPD said the animals sniff out explosive compounds in a proactive effort to counter terrorism.

"The dog is there simply for their nose - not for assisting with perpetrator apprehensions," Esposito said. "They are what we call task-specific."

Esposito said the police dogs undergo state mandated training. Once they graduate, the education continues, with the animals trained to detect the "most modern threat" in the U.S. or overseas.

"We want to make sure whatever is happening near a war-zone, outside of a warzone - whatever is the enemy's first choice to disrupt and attack - we want to make sure we're on top of that technology, if it were ever to come here," Esposito said. "Any new idea that is taken up quickly spreads, so if we're seeing something done as an attack or a potential attack in a foreign environment, we have to prepare for the possibility of it coming here," he added.

During the graduation ceremony, NYPD's Chief Jeffrey Maddrey presented the K-9s and their handlers a certificate, adding that the city is blessed to have them defending its residents and visitors.

"You're talking about a loyal, dedicated partner," Maddrey said of the K-9s.

The police dogs each smiled for photos with their handlers and families, as well as loved ones of the fallen officers. Esposito said is was an honor to acknowledge them all, including relatives of NYPD heroes.

"It's really nice to see grandchildren who have grown up and are now grandparents themselves just taking pride in the sacrifices that their grandfathers or grandfathers made," he said.