The Somerville Dog Owners Group joined Somerville Cares About Prevention and other community organizations in celebrating our safe neighborhoods with our neighbors on National Night Out at Foss Park. At our outreach table this year we had an art activity: "Make a Mutt." Thanks to Osika for the dog artwork. Thanks to our volunteers, Frank, Julie, Marshall, Michele and Steve, for helping out at our booth.

For the third year in a row, the Massachusetts State Police K-9 unit offered a demonstration at Somerville's night out against crime. This year K-9 Britta, a German Shepherd Dog (GSD) from the Netherlands, and her handler, Trooper Cayer, demonstrated K-9 obedience, while Trooper Liberty fielded questions from the audience about the dogs and the K-9 program. The highlight of the demonstration was the "Bark and Guard" performed by K-9 Falko, a GSD from the Czech Republic, and his handler, Trooper Liberty (with the help of Trooper Cayer).

As usual, I was too riveted by the intense Bark and Guard to take pictures. Cayer donned a thick "bite jacket," which he said is like wearing a parka. In actual training, the "suspect" wears a bite suit that protects her or his entire body. On Liberty's command, Falko apprehended Cayer by the sleeve of the bite jacket, and retained his hold despite vigorous attempts on Cayer's part to break free. Cayer even spun around, and Falko held on: just like ice dancers.

More impressive was Falko's responsiveness when commanded to release the suspect. Police dogs must not only arouse quickly, they must also calm quickly.

Cayer explained that when you join the K-9 unit you will get bitten. He said that though the bite jacket protects the skin from being punctured, the pressure of the dog's jaw can still bruise flesh. Indeed, he showed the audience a welt the size of a ping-pong ball that he got from Falko during the demonstration.

I also appreciated Trooper Liberty's remarks about the most impressive feats of which the dogs are capable, which cannot be performed in a demonstration. He told us about an elderly woman with Alzheimer's who was missing one winter night. Family and authoities had searched, but failed to locate her. An MSP K-9 was engaged in the search as the night got longer and colder. The K-9 found her at 3:00 a.m.: Were it not for that dog, the woman would not have survived the night.

We so infrequently get the opportunity to thank our officers for all they do for the community; One of the great things about National Night Out is the opportunity it gives us to appreciate police-community partnership.

This will likely be the last year that Somerville's National Night Out festivities benefit from the help of Stephanie Almeida, Volunteer Coordinator for Somerville Cares About Prevention. Almeida and her family are moving out of the City (out of the State, too). Thank you Stephanie, for four great National Nights Out at Foss Park.