Meet Officer Beko: The GBPD's Newest Addition

For an infant, Beko is a very busy boy.

For Beko, even though he’s only 10 weeks old and the size of a football, every day is “go to work with Dad day.” So, after breakfast he puts on his special uniform vest and heads out with his papa, Officer Kris Balestro, to the Great Barrington Police Department. There are lots of big people there in uniforms and badges and black shoes. They scratch his ears and play with him. Beko has noticed that no one scratches the other officers’ ears.

He’s the only officer who gets to take many naps during his shifts without getting into trouble. He gets to kiss everyone he sees and nibbles on their shoes with his baby teeth. He also has his name on the side of a police car: “Beko: Comfort Dog.”
 

Beko is a chunky, black, big-pawed English Labrador from New Hampshire. He’s an up-and-coming “comfort dog,” (another name for “therapy dog”), the police department’s newest innovation in community police work. Balestro is raising and training Beko to join him in responding to difficult 911 calls: a mental health issue, a call involving children, a natural disaster that brings loss or destruction, for instance. The Balestro-Beko team will be making routine visits to schools, hospitals, libraries, senior centers, nursing homes and community gatherings.

Beko is already helping to connect police with community members, to help spark conversations and build awareness. 

“People are more likely to approach a friendly dog, which gives us the chance to have a positive and productive dialog with people,” says Officer Balestro.

Comfort dogs are making their way into the ranks of police departments in Massachusetts, alongside tactical dogs who search for drugs and weapons. Beko is the first therapy dog in a Berkshire County police station, and his work is strictly limited to therapeutic support: Beko is on permanent standby to give and receive physical affection. 

This program was proposed and organized by Sgt. Paul Storti with the support of Chief William Walsh, Sgt. Adam Carlotto, Town Manager, Mark Pruhenski and the Selectboard.

Beko has begun training with local trainer Lois Platt. In about a year, Beko will have to “sit” for his equivalent of a police academy examination—a therapy dog certification.

Beko’s training also involves going with Officer Balestro to work and becoming socialized by meeting lots of people. When Balestro works on the desk handling phone calls at the station, Beko is there. If Balestro is working out in the community, Beko rides along in his police car.

He’s already had his first call: Balestro brought Beko to a recent 911 call involving a person in emotional distress. When Balestro and Beko arrived, the situation immediately changed because of Beko.  The person calmed down, and Balestro was able to help.

The Great Barrington Police Department already has a part-time mental health clinician on staff, assisting police with calls involving a mental health situation. Beko adds a new dimension to the increasing recognition that much of police work involves not crime, but mental illness and emotional distress.

Beko’s work with the town will not cost taxpayers anything. His New Hampshire breeders, Boonefield Labradors, periodically donate puppies to police departments who raise them as comfort/therapy dogs, and Beko was one such gift. Balestro said businesses and community members have also donated to a fund that will help pay for Beko’s specialized training, insurance, supplies and veterinary care.

“Departments are increasingly using comfort dogs as a mental health tool and stress reliever,” said Chief Walsh. “It’s a win-win situation, good for our community and good for our officers.”

In his downtime, Beko is catching and fetching – classic Labrador skills – working on sleeping through the night and potty training. He’s also keeping up with his Instagram page, @K9BEKOGBPD, which already has 543 followers.