April 9, 2017
Issue No. 15
www.westsidenewsny.com
West Edition
Distributed to Bergen, Clarendon, Holley-Murray and Brockport-Sweden
Meet “Brock!” by Tami Raco Brock is the very first police dog in the Brockport Police Department. In January 2017, Brockport Police Lieutenant Mark Cuzzupoli began researching the idea of creating a K-9 Unit. The research included the type of dog that would be best, where to purchase it, the cost and training program for both the dog and handler. It
Brock is the very first police dog in the Brockport Police Department. Provided photo.
Officer Josh Sime stands with his new K-9 partner, Brock. Provided photo.
also included the scope of how to obtain the funding to implement the K-9 unit. In mid-March, with the assistance of the Rochester Police Department, most of the research was completed and the financing was secured to help make this become a reality for Brockport. The department chose a purebred German Shepherd from Shallow Creek Kennels of Pennsylvania. The dog comes from a lineage of successful police dogs. He was chosen, according to Lieutenant Cuzzupoli, as being “the shining star.” A very generous donation by Wegmans and Milk Bone of $11,000 covered the entire cost of the dog, the canine cage in the police car, and the training program. Dr. Carolyn Orr, VMD, and the owner of the Animal Clinic of East Avenue, volunteered to provide all medical services and food for Brock. On social media, BPD opened the naming of the town’s police dog to the community. After receiving over 1,000 responses, he was officially named Brock. Many officers applied for the position of K-9 handler and it was a difficult choice, according to Lt. Cuzzupoli. In the end, Officer Josh Sime was chosen. Officer Sime has five years’ experience at BPD and is a dedicated, hardworking and motivated officer, said Cuzzupoli. The lieutenant described him as the perfect fit for the position.
Standing with Brock are (l-r): Lori Schreib, Asset Protection Manager for Wegmans; Officer Josh Sime; Frank Miceli, Store Manager for Wegmans. Provided photo. Training for Brock and Officer Sime began April 3 at the Public Safety Training Facility. Brock and Sime are one of four K-9 partners being trained in this class. Brock will be trained on drugs and protection. Once Brock and Sime graduate from the academy, a public introduction will occur along with tours of the police department and demonstrations by the dog. Check back for more stories from behind the scenes of Brock’s journey of becoming the Brockport Police Dog.
Weight limit increased for Route 259 bridge in Spencerport by Kristina Gabalski The weight limit on the Route 259 (Union Street) lift bridge over the Erie Canal in the Village of Spencerport was increased to 14 tons on Monday, April 3. Lori Maher, regional public information officer for the New York State DOT, says the bridge had been posted at eight tons. The weight limit was raised to 14 tons following work completed by a NYSDOT bridge maintenance winter crew. Maher says the crew strengthened structural steel beams that were showing some deterioration during a recent inspection. “The neat thing is that some of the workers assigned to plow snow in the winters were able to assist when it wasn’t snowing,” she says. “It took a few weeks to gain access under the bridge, but the actual repairs took a little more than a week.”
Timing for the work ended up being excellent, Maher explains. “Repairs were made without impacting traffic, and the bridge didn’t need to be raised to accommodate boat traffic.” Once the repairs were finalized, new calculations were done which determined that the bridge can safely handle legal loads weighing 14 tons or less, Maher said. The lower weight restrictions meant heavy trucks like snowplows and large garbage and recycling trucks have had to use alternate bridges such as the Washington Street and Manitou Road bridges. Spencerport Mayor Gary Penders tells the Suburban News/Hamlin-Clarkson Herald the higher weight limit will remain in effect until a larger-scale repair project begins in 2018. The mayor says the NYSDOT is currently putting together a plan for construction regarding that project, which is not expected to begin until late in 2018.
File photo by Walter Horylev.