Portsmouth Police Welcome Department's First Comfort Dog

PORTSMOUTH, RI — The Portsmouth Police Department recently introduced its first ever comfort dog.

Holly, a 16-month-old lab, has completed her training and will work with Officer Westley Lemar. Lemar is the department's school resource officer for the middle and elementary schools.

"Officer Lemar is looking forward to introducing Holly to all of the students and staff," Portsmouth police said in a Facebook post. "The presence of comfort dogs in schools has been shown to enhance positive relationships between the police and the school community, and we are very excited to begin this new partnership."

Police said Holly was gifted to the department by the New York nonprofit Puppies Behind Bars. Puppies Behind Bars trains people in prison to raise service dogs for first responders and wounded war veterans. Lemar has been training in New York with Holly for the past two weeks.

Police said Holly will also be available for special situations outside the schools to provide connections with residents, as well as reduce anxiety and increase communication with victims and witnesses.

The comfort dog program will be funded completely through community donations, police said.

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