East Hartford police embrace their new community engagement dog, Beacon [Video]

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — The East Hartford Police Department has announced the arrival of Beacon, its new community engagement dog.

Beacon is a two-and-a-half-year-old Yellow Labrador Retriever, who came to East Hartford courtesy of the Dogs for Better Lives organization. The nonprofit is based out of Oregon and Massachusetts and provides dogs with extensive training.

The organization selects destinations where the dogs they train can make the greatest impact. According to a release from the police department, the nonprofit prepares dogs for a variety of roles, where they can work with individuals who have disabilities or serve the community in different fashions.

Beacon has already completed enough training to provide critical support for people in crisis and is ready to be an everyday companion to the staff at the East Hartford Police Department. He will …