"Drone Dog" Added As Newest Member Of Enfield Police Department

ENFIELD, CT — At the risk of sounding like a bad 1980s infomercial for Ginsu knives or the Veg-o-Matic food processor ("It slices, it dices, it juliennes"), the latest addition to the Enfield Police Department can run, jump, sit, walk on four legs or even two, all while not requiring a bowl of water or a toy reward following a job well done.

The only thing R3KO may need is a battery recharge, for he is the newest tool in law enforcement - an electronic canine, or "drone dog."

Pronounced "Rico," the gadget arrived at police headquarters within the past two weeks, and has already been successfully utilized in locating a burglary suspect inside a Garden Street home, who was discovered in a basement hiding under a pile of construction debris.

Police Chief Alaric Fox told Patch, "We realize how robust our drone program is, but it has limitations. R3KO can get through partially closed doors, curtains and draperies. This is a life safety tool, for public safety, police safety, and even suspect safety."

Fox said he believes this is the first drone canine unit in the area. The funding had already been appropriated in the current town budget to acquire another drone, "albeit one that walks on four legs," he said.

Seven officers are completing training this week to operate the robot, Fox said.