PEABODY — The Police Department got an infusion of cuteness this week, when the School Committee approved a request to appoint its newest member, a 10-week-old English black Labrador named Ella.
The puppy, who underwent a rigorous interview with Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt Jr. to land the job, will serve as the Police Department’s first emotional-support dog. Ella will visit the city’s public schools to provide comfort for students who are dealing with stress.
“I interviewed several candidates for the position of Peabody’s official comfort dog and this little black Lab stood out amongst all those who applied,” said Bettencourt, who made the recommendation to the School Committee. “During these uncertain times, comfort dogs fill an important role in bringing a sense of joy and well-being to the many different people with whom they visit and interact.”
With the School Committee’s approval on Tuesday, the next step is for Ella to be officially sworn into her new role. She will be assigned to School Resource Officer Eric Ricci, who knows her well; Ricci is the pup’s owner and has been her obedience-lesson teacher.
Ricci said Ella will first focus on helping students at the city’s eight elementary schools, but will eventually visit students at Higgins Middle School and Veterans Memorial High School.
“She’s learning how to sit right now,” Ricci said on Wednesday. “We visited South Memorial Elementary School today and we taught the students how to pet her. She’s popular with them and the teachers.”
Additionally, Ella will ride in her very own police cruiser as she makes her daily rounds to the city’s schools.
The idea to have an emotional-support dog visit Peabody Public Schools came from Ricci, Police Chief Thomas M. Griffin, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Josh Vadala, Sgt. David Bonfanti and Bettencourt. Ricci, Griffin and Bonfanti introduced Ella to the School Committee during Tuesday night’s meeting.
Ricci said Ella is named after Ella O’Donnell, a 10-year-old Peabody resident who died from brain cancer complications in 2016.
Vadala said he was excited to have Ella as part of the community. He said the police department and school district had seen the success of emotional-support animals in towns such as Wakefield, and believed having an emotional-support animal of their own would be a positive addition to Peabody.
“There are a lot of other districts looking into having an emotional-support animal as well,” Vadala said. “I think the City of Salem is thinking about it, but Peabody would be the first community on the North Shore to implement this.”
Vadala said there were some worries about having an emotional-support dog, such as allergies and a phobia of dogs among the students, but he said the benefits of having Ella outweigh any of these worries.
Bettencourt said he has received a petition from City Hall employees, who said they want a comfort dog as well. While City Hall may not get a dog of their own right now, Bettencourt said Ella will make a difference in the community.
“When I heard about this program and it was brought forward, I immediately embraced it and thought it was going to be a wonderful idea,” Bettencourt said at the School Committee meeting. “I want to thank you as well, Eric ― the dog is going to be living with you. This is a wonderful thing you’re doing.”
