The police departments in Warren County are teaming up to construct a special training unit for their fluffy but ferocious colleagues on the force.
The Warren County Police Chiefs Association will construct a K-9 training area at the County Public Safety Building in Franklin Township, after receiving Warren County commissioners’ consent in August.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin has set guidelines that require ongoing scenario training to keep dogs and their handlers prepared to enter dangerous situations, said Washington Township Police Chief Christopher Jones. Canines must be re-certified two to four times a year, based on the canine’s typical work responsibilities.
Having a canine training site at the Public Safety Department, where the Warren County Fire Academy is also located, offers multiple areas for different training scenarios, he said.
Local police K-9 units within Warren County and participating agencies will be responsible for all materials and costs to construct, operate and maintain the training site. Four police departments in Warren County utilize K-9 units ( Blairstown Township, Phillipsburg, Pohatcong and Washington townships).
“I would like to thank the county commissioners and Washington Township Committee for their support with this project,” said Washington Township Police Chief Christopher M. Jones, who is vice president of the Warren County Police Chiefs Association.
Jones said there are still some logistics to work through, “but we will have the training center operable in the near future.”
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