Meet Connecticut's Canine Officers: Franco, Vernon Police Department

VERNON, CT — In the latest segment on Connecticut's police dogs, we say hello to Franco.

Franco, is a valuable member of the Vernon Police Department. He's a Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd who celebrated his fifth birthday on July 15.

Franco and his handler, officer Brandon Zawadski, have been a team since 2022. They are very active in the community and have had several impactful and significant narcotics busts.

For example, last December, Vernon officer Andre Lisee conducted a motor vehicle stop on Route 83 for a moving violation. The driver was known to the VPD for narcotics involvement, according to an incident report. Zawadski and Franco responded to the stop and Franco detected narcotics within the vehicle, according to an incident report. A subsequent search uncovered approximately 8 grams of suspected crack cocaine packaged for sale, $800 in cash, two glass smoking pipes, and other miscellaneous paraphernalia, police said.

At 10:15 on a night in June, Vernon police stopped a motor vehicle for "erratic operation" on Route 83. Two, 22-year-old men were inside the vehicle and marijuana residue was in clear view on the driver's lap, according to an incident report. While police were administering a field sobriety test to the driver, the passenger, began having a "medical emergency," according to an incident report. The driver then ran back to the vehicle and tried to jump through the passenger compartment in an effort to get to the steering wheel and drive away, according to an incident report.

He was quickly removed from the vehicle, according to an incident report.

Franco was then put into action, and he uncovered a stash of drugs and guns that included:

• 18 ounces of Marijuana packaged for sale
• 10 pressed fentanyl pills
• scales and packaging material
• 2 loaded firearms, one with a switch assist and high capacity magazine

It's not only drug arrests.

Last September, a suspect fleeing a domestic disturbance hopped in a truck bed, but Franco found him, according to a report. According to a police report, Vernon police department officers responded to the area of Talcottville Road and Pleasant View Drive for a domestic disturbance. Someone involved in the incident had fled on foot prior to officers arrival.

He decided to hide in the truck, but a leap and a peek into the bed by Franco ended his chances of escape.

Franco has also made appearances as a prisoner at local trunk-or-treat events and as a guest presenter on Read Across America Day. He and Zawadski have participated in Dream Ride and the Canine Olympics and Special Olympic Torch run events.

Franco's so cool, he has a trading card.