Meet Connecticut's Canine Officers: CSP Police Dog Apollo

TOLLAND, CT — This month's segment in a Patch series on dogs who serve the community takes an up-close glance at canine officer Apollo.

Apollo is just one of the valuable canines who's primarily stationed out of the Connecticut State Police Troop C barracks. Apollo and his handler Trooper Michael Nisbet are graduates of the 226th patrol class and have been on the job together since 2022.

A German Shepherd who's tracking skills are on point, even with his short time on the job, Apollo has had his share of notable calls, including Troop K calling for his assistance and making quick work of a three-quarter-mile track in Bolton and catching a suspect in Stafford.

One of his most celebrated efforts took place last August, when Apollo nabbed a Massachusetts man who was fleeing a home while violating a protective order, an arrest report indicates. The incident took place on Sunset Ridge Road in Stafford on Aug. 21, state police said.

The 37-year-old Man from Monson, MA, exited the home and ran away after realizing state troopers had been called about him violating a protective order, according to an arrest report. Nisbet and Apollo were deployed and, after an extensive tracking period, found the man hiding in a loft inside and outbuilding on the property, according to an arrest report.

Apollo is newly accompanied by Zeke and Viper, also of Troop C.

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April's edition will display another side of honoring these canine heroes by providing a look at the Drobecs Second Chance Organization.