PHOTOS: Supporting Fairfield Police Dogs At Cars 4 K9s Fundraiser

FAIRFIELD, CT — A spectrum of classic and muscle cars coasted into Fairfield on Sunday morning for the Cars 4 K9s fundraiser rally at the westbound parking lot of the downtown train station.

Organized by a new not-for-profit community group in town called Driven 4 Cause, the event featured some food trucks, live music, and a live demonstration from the Fairfield Police Department’s K-9 unit.

“Driven 4 Cause is an automotive social club that drives for causes we are passionate about,” said Alex Angus of Westport, the cofounder.

He said the group combines their love of automotive lifestyle and vehicles with a desire to help in community causes through philanthropy.

“Everybody really came out to support this,” he said.

While weather was precarious in the morning, it managed to hold off.

Cofounder Rocco Cafferelli of Fairfield said that the K-9 unit didn’t receive funding through the town, and initiatives were needed to keep it going.

“That’s the goal,” he said, noting they had previously done an event to aid the unit that raised $17,000.

Sgt. Evan Kaesmann was on hand with his German shepherd, Maverick, a nearly seven-year veteran of the force, with whom he did a demonstration of some canine maneuvers.

Kaesmann, who supervises the K-9 unit, said events like this were especially worthwhile because it gives the public a chance to ask specific questions about how they work together.

He explained that like all their dogs, Maverick was from Europe — specifically Slovakia — from a breeder that specializes in working dogs, which are generally stronger, faster and have better endurance.

The dogs go through a period of intense training — more than two months — and, along with monthly ongoing formal training, are worked with for at least 30 minutes each day without fail to keep them in shape.

Maverick is a multi-use K-9, meaning he is able to do various tasks including evidence recovery, building searches and suspect apprehension.

He will remain active on the force for ideally nine or 10 years, after which Kaesmann said he will continue to live with the sergeant — as he currently does — but as his pet.

“That’s a good career for a dog,” he said.