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Died – July 2020
After more than seven years of service, retired City of Norwich Police Department K9 Weeks passed away last month with law enforcement honoring his dedication to Chenango County and its residents. According to City of Norwich Police Officer Brandon Clarke, Weeks was donated to his police department in 2009. Clarke said Weeks passed away after more than seven years of service, and four years of retirement. “Weeks was a 12 and a half year old shepherd, and that’s long in the tooth for any animal, especially for what he endured as a cop,” said Clarke. “Humans tend to take better care of their animals when it comes to the end of life than sometimes we do ourselves or each other.” “I give all the props in the world for the crew at Pet Street, they were nothing but professional, and throughout Week’s whole career, Dr. Mike King did absolutely anything that needed to be done for the program.” Clarke said a plaque was requisitioned and is now in the Norwich Police Department as a reminder of Weeks’ service. He said it was created locally by The Trophy Guy, who did an excellent job. “Hopefully we can fill the wall with a bunch of dogs because the community needs that caliber of service,” he added. “Weeks could go from visiting the Y, to going to the school, and then right after go to a call that there was a man with a pipe running down the street.” “He was able, confident, and trained well enough where he could switch modes flawlessly for over seven years.” According to Clarke, Weeks was donated to the police department by a supportive citizen named Judy Weeks. Clarke said Judy Weeks’ father-in-law and husband were Norwich Police Officers. “Joe Angelino was the chief at the time, and there was a young lady who used to live in this area by the name of Judy Weeks,” said Clarke. “Her father-in-law and husband were Norwich Police Officers, and she has always been a supporter of Norwich police and police as a whole.” He said Judy Weeks was inspired to pay for a K9 for the department, and with donations from Proctor and Gamble, along with additional funds from the City of Norwich it was made possible in 2009. “Between the private donation of Judy Weeks, and the public donation of Proctor and Gamble, the K9 program had all of the financial support that it needed,” he added. “Five of us interviewed for the program, and somehow I was the chosen one for the handler position.” “When I found someone that could get a K9 I was asked what kind of dog I wanted, and I said he’s got to be a narcotics dog, he’s got to be a patrol dog, and a tracking dog.” Clarke said it was important that the dog be able to assist with building searches, criminal apprehension, crowd control.
