About

Officer David Peterson of the Norwalk Police Department has worked with the Norwalk Police Department since 2005.  He has been a member of CPWDA and NAPWDA since 2010, NPCA since 2011 and NNDDA since 2020. Officer Peterson has been  a member of the Norwalk Police K-9 Unit since 2007.  He began working with the Canine Unit as the Unit’s Decoy and Assistant Trainer, under Sergeant Frank Reda.

In March of 2012, He began working with Superior K9 Services with the development of green dogs and brand new handlers.  He has conducted several K-9 Instructor Courses, that are devised of 10 weeks and 400 hours. These classes are focused on the development of dogs and their handlers, in the area of Detection, Tracking, and Patrol. He has assisted in training over 40 dogs, all of which are now certified in either Patrol and Narcotics or Explosives.  He presently leads the Southwest Region 7 bi-annual, monthly training. These trainings consists of over 20 dogs and involved as a trainer for several CPWDA events over the past several years.

Officer Peterson’s current partner is a 3 year old, all Black German Shepherd, Nova. PSD Nova is certified in Narcotics, Tracking, Patrol and has been serving with the Norwalk Police Department for 2 years.  Officer David Peterson first partner, PSD Rainor (retired) were the 1st runners up for the prestigious Daniel Wasson Memorial K9 award in 2014.  Officer David Peterson and PSD Rainor were also selected by FLEOA for “K-9 Heroes” of 2014, where they were honored inside Fenway Park.  PSD Rainor served for the Norwalk Police Department for 9 years before retirement.

Officer Peterson was elected to the CPWDA Executive Board in 2017.  Officer David Peterson is a Certifying Official with NPCA, NNDDA and CPWDA certifying over 50 Teams Bi-annually for Detection, Tracking and Patrol.

Todd Mona graduated the CSP K9 Academy In 2006 for patrol work with his first dog K9 Primo.  They went on to join CPWDA in 2007 where they were the Daniel Wasson Memorial award winner twice and runner up once.  The team also won numerous awards at the Connecticut Police K9 Olympics to include 1st and 3rd place finishes along with top awards for obedience, tactical obedience and criminal apprehension over their career.  Primo was stabbed several times in 2009 in his back and head.  He was able to make a full recovery after several months and return to full duty until retiring in 2015.  During their tenure they logged over 2000 training hours including tactical swat school, high risk deployment school, tracking seminars, perimeter containment’s and decoy school.  Primo had over 125 tracking finds and building search finds during his career.  In 2014 Todd Mona achieved his Maintenance Trainer certification in which he hosted his first patrol class in 2015 and founded the ‘Capital Region K9 Academy’.  Mona also bred, selected and raised a puppy from a litter to be his new partner in the class.  K9 Casus Belli has since gone on to win numerous awards at the Cabelas K9 competition, Dreamride K9 competition,  Connecticut Police K9 Olympics and second runner up to the Daniel Wasson Memorial award.   In 2016 Mona hosted his second patrol class and in 2016 hosted a three day building search class.  In 2018 Mona crossed trained Casus in gun detection work through M/T Scribner.  Mona has assisted M/T Scribner in several patrol/narcotics classes in the past few years.  Mona has logged to date through 2019 over 2500 training hours with his second dog and currently in the process of testing for trainer through NAPWDA.  Casus has over 50 finds on tracks and building searches to date as well as locating 5 stolen firearms. Officer Mona became C.P.W.D.A. North East Vice-president in 2021

Sergeant Garrett Kruger is an active 16 year law enforcement veteran who currently serves as the commanding officers for his departments six dog K9 unit.  He has been working with the K9 Unit since 2007 as a decoy and started working his first dual purpose patrol canine in 2012.  In 2018 he started working two canines, the dual purpose patrol canine and a second explosive detection Labrador.  In 2020 his first patrol dog was retired and a second was trained in dual purpose patrol work.  He currently works two canines for his department.

Sergeant Kruger has been the recipient of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association “K9 Hero’s” award in 2014 for a K9 application and Officer of the year in 2009.  He received the Police Service Cross award in 2011, eight Officer of the Month awards, seven Meritorious Commendation Awards, two MADD Awards, 2008 Courage of Connecticut Award, 2011 United States Attorney Award, 2008 and 2011 Distinguished Service Awards, and 2019 Hope Foundation Community Service Award.  He currently is certified through the FBI Methods of Instruction class and Connecticut POSTC to teach in K9 Deployments and Perimeters, Motor Vehicle Stops, Use of Force Instructor. Taser Instructor, Less Lethal Instructor, and Defense Technologies Instructor in chemical, impact and aerosol munitions.

Sergeant Kruger has been a CPWDA member since 2012 and has served as the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Secretary since 2021.