The Red Bank Police Department added a crucial officer to the force two weeks ago.
Hunter, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, is the department’s first-ever police dog, and together with his partner Patrolman Stan Balmer, the two officers patrol the streets of Red Bank.
“He’s one of our partners,” Officer Jorge Torres said. “Even though he’s a four-legged patrolman … we treat him just like one of our other brothers.”
Hunter and Balmer notched their first drug bust together on June 6 while assisting Fair Haven police investigate a vehicle. Hunter sniffed around the vehicle and indicated the car, resulting in the finding of drugs and a weapon, according to Balmer.
On patrol, Hunter knows he has a job to do. “When I have these collars on him here, it’s like a switch for him to know he’s coming to work today,” Balmer said.
Like any other officer, Hunter went through the police academy before joining the force, graduating from 16 weeks of patrol school in January and 12 weeks of narcotics school about two weeks ago.
“It’s me and a bunch of other students in the class and we’re trained by several instructors,” Balmer said of the police dog academy. “The dogs are pretty good without us. They’re more training us – the handlers – than anything else.”
Despite 28 weeks of training, Balmer works with Hunter every day on obedience to keep him sharp while on the job.
Torres said he thinks having “the right officer in place” was integral for the department to acquire its first police dog.
Balmer, who was previously a detective with the Long Branch Police Department for five years and with the Monmouth County Sherriff’s Office for one year, has been with RBPD for about three years and said it was his “career dream” to participate in a K-9 unit.
Balmer researched the cost and training requirements for a police dog and presented the idea to Red Bank Police Chief Darren McConnell.
After McConnell, Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna and the Borough Council gave the go-ahead, Balmer began the effort to raise money for the program’s $35,000 price tag. Once RBPD raised enough money, Menna and the council officially approved the formation of the K-9 unit.
CEO of Comfort Revolution Michael Fux, who was the largest donor, gave about $7,000 to buy Hunter from Shelly’s School for Dogs in Millstone Township. Fux also donated approximately $28,000 for the base model of the K-9 unit patrol vehicle, McConnell said.
McConnell said the Red Bank Policemen’s Benevolent Association also raised money from local businesses and residents to add a radio and kennel to the K-9 patrol vehicle, and buy equipment such as leashes and collars. Any leftover funds will be used to maintain the program.
Hunter seems well worth the cost after he made his first drug bust just two weeks out of the academy. He will also be able to assist police with collecting evidence, clearing buildings and tracking missing persons.
“This kind of multiplies our force at a very reduced cost, essentially putting an extra person on the street,” said McConnell, who has been with RBPD for 27 years. “Although the dog is partnered obviously with a handler, he can do a lot of the work that would take (more) time for officers to do, particularly in searches.”
Aside from the police work, Hunter has become a key part of RBPD’s community outreach.
“People have a lot of questions and ideas about what a dog can bring,” Torres said, “And I think once we start doing demos … (people) will really see how what an integral part (Hunter is) going to become for this department and for the community.”
Hunter and Balmer already appeared at Drum Point Elementary School, Long Branch Senior Center and Red Bank Regional High School to demonstrate how the K-9 unit operates.
When not on the job Hunter lives at home with Balmer and his family.
“Ultimately he’s part of the family,” Balmer said. “He’s my partner. He’s my buddy.”
– By Dan Russo
