Framingham Police Department's K-9 unit has become nearly a 24-7 operation

FRAMINGHAM — The Police Department recently welcomed three new four-legged members to the force.

Police dogs Luca, Bergy and Murph have joined the department, adding to a K-9 unit that already included Isco.

"We now have a K-9 on every shift, which I thought was important," said Police Chief Lester Baker. "We have a need for it. In the past, when we didn't have a dog, we would have to call in mutual aid and I thought it would be better if we had our own."

Sgt. David Curtis heads the K-9 unit and is paired with Luca, a Belgian Malinois. Bergy, a German shepherd, is paired with Officer Stephen Buma. And Officer Andrew Lewis is partnered with Murph, a German shepherd-Belgian Malinois mix.

Isco, who joined the department last year, is a German shepherd who is paired with Officer Matthew Mangano.

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Having a police dog is not like having a domestic pet, Curtis said.

"A lot of people think it's really cool — and it is — but it's a lot of work," he said. "They live with you. You spend all of your time with them. They live outside because they (trainers) don't want them in the house because it changes their outlook and (they) become more like domesticated pets. They're not pets; they're work dogs. The bonds certainly form between the handlers and their dogs, but they are not pets. They become a part of your life."

Bergy, Luca and Murph all joined the department earlier this year, and each had to undergo months of training.Luca is a single-purpose dog, trained for explosives and firearm searches, Curtis said. Both Bergy and Murph are dual-purpose dogs, trained for explosives and firearm searches and as patrol dogs.

"The patrol dogs are what most people think of when they think of police dogs," said Curtis. "They're the ones that search for people, suspects."

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Isco is also a patrol dog and is trained as a narcotics detection dog.

Curtis said three of the dogs — Luca, Bergy and Isco — were paid for with grants, while Murph was gifted to them from the Quincy Police Department when his handler left the force.

Even though Murph was previously trained, he had to go through the academies again with Lewis.

"The handler needs the training, and it helps to allow them to bond," Curtis said.

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A lot of the other costs — such as outfitting dog-specific cruisers, food and medical care — are paid for with donations, Baker said.

"We do have some cost, but we have had a lot of generous donations," he said. "There's a lot of people who want to donate when they hear that we have dogs."

Curtis said that with four dogs on hand, there will be coverage nearly 24 hours a day, except when their handlers are off or on vacation. Buma is on from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., while Lewis works 3-11 p.m. Magano is on from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., while Curtis is on duty from 2-10 p.m.

"It allows for coverage at our busiest times," Curtis said. "It will also make us available for mutual aid to other communities.

Having several dogs will also help during major incidents when more than one dog is needed.

"A lot of people don't understand, it's very hard work on the dog," said Curtis. "They do get tired when it's a large tracking area or multiple tracks."

Baker said having the dogs has already paid dividends.

"They've already tracked people, suspects, have found firearms and narcotics," said Baker. "We had a need for this."

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Framingham Police Dept. K-9 unit increases from one to four